Jose Marrero, a 36-year-old resident of Woonsocket, was sentenced to over fifteen years in federal prison. Acting United States Attorney Sara Miron Bloom announced that Marrero pleaded guilty to charges including possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.
Court documents reveal Marrero's previous convictions for drug trafficking in Rhode Island state court. He was known for posting images and videos on social media showing himself with drugs and firearms, including semi-automatic pistols and AR-15 style rifles modified with machine gun conversion devices. These posts depicted him engaging in various activities while armed.
The documents also include videos showing Marrero with multiple kilos of cocaine and messages indicating his leadership role in drug trafficking. Text exchanges between Marrero and others highlight his organization of drug movements and discussions about productivity demands from his associates.
Marrero openly displayed his firearm collection on social media despite being unable to purchase them legally due to past felony convictions. His text messages show he enlisted others, including his girlfriend, to acquire firearms on his behalf and accepted guns as payment for drugs.
U.S. District Court Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr. sentenced Marrero to 181 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release. The prosecution team included Assistant United States Attorneys Christine D. Lowell, Stacey A. Erickson, and Sandra R. Hebert.
The investigation was conducted by the ATF with assistance from Massachusetts State Police and several local police departments.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, an initiative aimed at combating illegal immigration, eliminating cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protecting communities from violent crime perpetrators.
