Agreed to accept shipments of cocaine sent via the U.S. mail at her residence and post office box, and turn the packages over to a drug operation
PROVIDENCE - Jeanlee Figueroa, 21, of Central Falls, pleaded guilty in federal court in Providence today to charges relating to her participation in a conspiracy to traffic between 3.5 and 5 kilograms of cocaine.
Appearing before U.S. District Court Judge John J. McConnell, Jr., Figueroa pleaded guilty to one count each of conspiracy to possess more than 1 kilogram of cocaine with the intent to distribute and possession of in excess of 1 kilogram of cocaine with the intent to distribute.
Figueroa’s guilty plea is announced by Acting United States Attorney Stephen G. Dambruch; Colonel Ann C. Assumpico, Superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police; and Shelly A. Binkowski, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division.
According to court documents and information presented to the court, in July 2016, Figueroa learned of a drug operation in the greater Providence area that was receiving packages of cocaine shipped from Puerto Rico. She was aware that individuals who allowed their addresses to be used to receive the packages were paid cash for receiving the packages and turning them over to the drug operation.
At the time of her guilty plea, Figueroa admitted to the court that she contacted an individual and provided her address. Thereafter, Figueroa began to receive packages delivered through the U.S. mail addressed to fictitious persons at her home address. Wanting to increase her earnings, Figueroa opened a post office box at the Pawtucket post office with the express intention of receiving additional packages of cocaine.
According to court documents, Figueroa received 17 packages, each containing approximately 300 grams of cocaine. Eight were received at her residence and 9 were received at her Pawtucket post office box. Figueroa received and delivered between 3.5 and 5 kilograms of cocaine.
Jeanlee Figueroa, who is currently released on unsecured bond, is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 19, 2017. Conspiracy to possess more than 1 kilogram of cocaine with the intent to distribute and possession of in excess of 1 kilogram of cocaine with the intent to distribute is punishable by statutory penalties of 40 years imprisonment, with a mandatory minimum 5 years imprisonment, and a term of supervised release of 4 years to life.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney William J. Ferland.
The matter was investigated by the Rhode Island State Police High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force and U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
Acting United States Attorney Stephen G. Dambruch acknowledges and thanks the Newport and Cranston Police Departments, and the DEA for their assistance in the investigation of this matter.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
