PROVIDENCE - Agustin Acevedo, 50, and Dismery Uceta, 43, of Providence, pleaded guilty in federal court in Providence today to trafficking a kilogram of fentanyl laced heroin to Rhode Island from New York. Acevedo and Uceta were arrested in April 2016 as they drove to Rhode Island after picking up a kilogram of heroin in the Bronx.
Appearing before U.S. District Court Judge John J. McConnell, Jr., Agustin Acevedo pleaded guilty to one count each of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute heroin, and possession with the intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin. Dismery Uceta pleaded guilty to one count each of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin and possession with intent to distribute heroin.
Acevedo and Uceta’s guilty pleas are announced by Acting United States Attorney Stephen G. Dambruch; Michael J. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of DEA, Colonel Ann C. Assumpico, Superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police, and Warwick Police Chief Colonel Stephen M. McCartney.
According to court documents and information presented to the court, in March 2016, as part of an ongoing DEA drug trafficking investigation, DEA agents and members of the Rhode Island DEA Drug Task Force determined that on April 29, 2016, Acevedo rented a vehicle in Rhode Island, and that he and Uceta drove to the Bronx, New York. They drove back to Rhode Island early the next day. As the vehicle was returning to Rhode Island, DEA agents, who were conducting surveillance of the vehicle, reported to Rhode Island State Police that the vehicle was traveling on Route 95 at speeds of approximately 80 mph. A Rhode Island State Trooper stopped the vehicle on Route 95 between exits 5 and 6 for speeding.
A speeding citation was issued to the driver, Agustin Acevedo. During the traffic stop, the trooper observed a brick-like object wrapped in a plastic bag in plain view in an open handbag on the floor of the vehicle. The occupants of the vehicle consented to a search of the vehicle and Uceta to a search of the handbag. A State Police K-9 gave a positive alert to the area near where the handbag was located. A field test of the brick-like object tested positive for heroin. Acevedo and Uceta were detained by DEA agents who also responded to the traffic stop.
On May 3, 2016, a Warwick Police Department Detective received the kilogram of suspected heroin for further analysis. He later identified the left index finger impression of Acevedo on the outer side of the kilogram wrapping. Forensic testing at the New England Regional Laboratory for DEA revealed that the kilogram of heroin was laced with fentanyl and dipyrone (an analgesic).
Acevedo and Uceta have been detained in federal custody since their arrest. They are scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge John J. McConnell, Jr., on December 4, 2017.
At sentencing, Agustin Acevedo faces statutory sentences of 5 - 40 years imprisonment followed by 4 years to lifetime supervised release, and up to a $5,000,000 fine on each charge; Dismery Uceta, faces statutory sentences of up to 20 years imprisonment followed by at least 3 years supervised release, and a fine of up to $1,000,000 on each charge.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul F. Daly, Jr.
The Rhode Island DEA Drug Task Force is comprised of law enforcement personnel from the DEA, Rhode Island State Police, and the Providence, East Providence, Central Falls, Woonsocket, West Warwick, Cranston, Pawtucket, Newport, South Kingstown, and Warwick Police Departments.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
