PROVIDENCE - A Providence man who allegedly sold nearly two kilograms of fentanyl and nearly 400 grams of heroin while under surveillance by members of the DEA Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force was indicted by a federal grand jury on Tuesday on fentanyl and heroin trafficking charges.
If convicted, Josimar Delacruz-Reyes, 31, faces up to life in federal prison.
Delacruz-Reyes was arrested by members of the DEA task force on March 18, 2019, as he allegedly attempted to collect a cash payment of $115,000, after allegedly delivering nearly two kilograms of fentanyl and 400 grams of heroin. The fentanyl and heroin was seized by law enforcement.
On Tuesday, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Delacruz-Reyes with possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin, announced United States Attorney Aaron L. Weisman and Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New England Field Division Brian D. Boyle.
According to information presented to the Court during Delacruz-Reyes’ initial appearance before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Patricia A. Sullivan on March 19, 2019, it is alleged that during mid and late February, DEA Task Force officers electronically monitored Delacruz-Reyes multiple times as he made deliveries of fentanyl. On March 18, 2019, DEA Task Force members electronically monitored Delacruz-Reyes as he allegedly delivered nearly two kilograms of fentanyl and approximately 400 grams of heroin for an agreed upon price of $115,000. Delacruz-Reyes was arrested shortly after the delivery, when he traveled to a nearby coffee shop where he was expecting to receive a cash payment for the drugs.
Each time members of the DEA task force monitored a delivery of drugs, the drugs were quickly seized by law enforcement.
An indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
An arraignment date on the indictment has not been scheduled. Delacruz-Reyes has been detained in federal custody since his arrest and initial appearance in federal court in March.
Possession with intent to deliver 400 grams or more of fentanyl is punishable by statutory penalties of 10 years and up to life in federal prison; 5 years to lifetime supervised release; and a fine of up to $10,000,000. Possession with intent to deliver 100 grams or more of heroin is punishable by statutory penalties of 5 years and up to 40 years in federal prison; 4 years to lifetime supervised release; and a fine of up to $5,000,000.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul F. Daly, Jr.
The matter was investigated by the Boston-based DEA Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force, with substantial assistance from law enforcement agents and officers assigned to the Rhode Island DEA Task Force and the Providence Police Department Narcotics and Organized Crime Bureau.
The Rhode Island DEA Drug Task Force is comprised of law enforcement personnel from DEA, Rhode Island State Police, and the East Providence, Central Falls, Coventry, Cranston, Newport, North Kingstown, Pawtucket, Providence, South Kingstown, Warwick, West Warwick and Woonsocket Police Departments.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
