PROVIDENCE - William Gonzalez, 50, of Providence, pleaded guilty in federal court in Providence today to criminal charges related to his participation in a conspiracy to ship more than 200 packages containing significant quantities of cocaine from Puerto Rico to Rhode Island.
Appearing before U.S. District Court Judge John J. McConnell, Jr, Gonzalez pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess one or more kilograms of cocaine with the intent to distribute and possession of one or more kilograms of cocaine with the intent to distribute.
William Gonzalez’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.
At the time of his guilty plea, Gonzalez admitted to the Court that beginning in January 2016, he traveled repeatedly to Puerto Rico for the purpose of purchasing large quantities of cocaine and arranging for the drugs to be shipped via the U.S. Postal Service to various addresses in Rhode Island. Gonzalez admitted to participating in a conspiracy in which he was responsible for at least 203 packages containing a minimum of 300 grams each being shipped from Puerto Rico to Rhode Island, for a total of 60,900 grams.
On Aug. 31, 2016, Gonzalez was arrested by Rhode Island State Police and ordered detained at the Adult Correctional Institution. Appearing in federal court today, Gonzalez admitted to the Court that while incarcerated, he continued to direct other members of the conspiracy to continue to purchase cocaine in Puerto Rico and to mail the cocaine back to Rhode Island.
According to a plea agreement filed in this matter and accepted by the Court, at sentencing on Dec. 20, 2017, the government and the defendant will recommend the Court impose a term of 72 months in federal prison. The federal prison sentence is to be served consecutive to a sentence of 25 years, 12 to serve imposed in Rhode Island state court on Aug. 31, 2016, in an unrelated case. In that case, Gonzalez pleaded nolo to possession of cocaine with the intent to deliver.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney William J. Ferland.
The matter was investigated by the Rhode Island State Police and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service in Providence.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
