PROVIDENCE, RI - A West Warwick man today became the 16th person who participated in a multi-state fentanyl and cocaine distribution conspiracy with ties to the Dominican Republic, dubbed “Operation Panamera," to plead guilty to federal drug trafficking charges.
Appearing today before U.S. District Court Judge John J. McConnell Jr., Jamaal M. Dublin, 35, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, announced United States Attorney Stephen G. Dambruch, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New England Field Division Brian D. Boyle, and Rhode Island State Police Superintendent Colonel Ann C. Assumpico.
Dublin is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 29, 2018.
To date, 16 of 23 individuals arrested and charged in the fall of 2017 with participating in the drug trafficking conspiracy have pleaded guilty to federal drug trafficking charges.
During the course of the investigation, which began in early 2017, more than 23 kilograms of fentanyl, 18 kilograms of cocaine, 11 kilograms of marijuana and two kilograms of psilocybin mushrooms were seized. The seizures were made as the drugs moved through the U.S. Postal Service, during traffic stops, and during the execution of court-authorized searches of residences, storage units and vehicles.
Dublin admitted to the Court that he coordinated with the ring-leader of the conspiracy, Ramon Delossantos, 25, of Cumberland, Rhode Island, to distribute and collect payment for significant quantities of cocaine.
According to court records, Delossantos, a Dominican national who maintained strong ties to the Dominican Republic, was responsible for distributing at least 50 kilograms of fentanyl and cocaine in New England with the use of “runners." Delossantos’ mode of transportation during the drug trafficking operation was a 2010 Porsche Panamera Turbo. Delossantos was arrested on Oct. 2, 2017, and his Porsche Panamera was seized by law enforcement.
Delossantos pleaded guilty on June 14, 2018, to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 17, 2018.
An immigration detainer has been lodged against Delossantos by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul F. Daly, Jr., and Milind M. Shah.
The investigation, “Operation Panamera," was led by agents from by the Drug Enforcement Administration and members of the Rhode Island State Police High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
