PROVIDENCE - A Pawtucket man previously convicted in Rhode Island state court on felony drug trafficking and misdemeanor domestic assault charges has been ordered detained in federal custody, having been found to allegedly be in possession of a loaded firearm.
On Oct. 14, 2020, Pawtucket Police Officers observing traffic allegedly observed the driver of a vehicle with Virginia license plates, later identified as Jonathan Reyes, 34, of Pawtucket, to be not wearing a seatbelt. Additionally, officers determined that the license plates displayed on the vehicle were registered to a different make and model. As a result, they initiated a traffic stop.
According to court documents, as officers pulled the vehicle over, they allegedly observed Reyes reach across his body, remove a dark object from his chest, and place it in an area out of the officers’ sight. After being advised of the reason for the traffic stop, Reyes allegedly told the officers that he had just purchased the vehicle. He provided officers with a Bill of Sale that allegedly did not contain a VIN number, date of sale/purchase, or signatures of the seller/buyer. A further check of the registration plates determined the vehicle was improperly registered.
While speaking with Reyes regarding his improperly registered vehicle, the officer noticed a dark satchel/fanny pack in the middle of the back seat. When asked what he removed from his chest area as officers were stopping his vehicle, Reyes allegedly told officers that he had removed his seat belt. Reyes and a passenger were asked to leave the vehicle. During a search of the vehicle officers allegedly discovered a loaded Sig Sauer semi-automatic handgun with an obliterated serial number. Officers also allegedly discovered a pill bottle with a ripped label containing suspected Adderall pills.
Reyes, who allegedly attempted to flee police and allegedly resisted officers as he was being placed under arrest, was charged in Rhode Island state court on firearm, drug and resisting arrest charges.
Today, Reyes appeared in federal court before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Patricia A. Sullivan charged with felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition and with felon in possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number. He was ordered detained in federal custody, announced United States Attorney Aaron L. Weisman, Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Goncalves, and Special Agent in Charge of the Boston Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Kelly D. Brady.
A federal criminal complaint is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
If convicted as charged in the criminal complaint, Reyes faces a statutory sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison to be followed by 3 years of supervised release.
The case in federal court is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys William J. Ferland and Ly T. Chin.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
