Trinitarios Gang Leader Sentenced to 90 Months in Federal Prison
John Polanco Identified as Leader of the Trinitarios Gang in Rhode Island During FBI Undercover Investigation Five Days After Being Released from Federal Prison
| U.S. Attorney’s Office May 20, 2011 |
PROVIDENCE, RI—A Providence, Rhode Island man identified during an FBI undercover investigation as the leader, or “primera,” of the Rhode Island chapter of the Trinitarios street gang was sentenced Friday in U.S. District Court in Providence to 90 months in federal prison. U.S. District Court Judge William E. Smith sentenced John Polanco, 29, to 68 months in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm and for conspiracy to distribute and distribution of Ecstasy; and a separate sentence of 22 months in federal prison for violating the terms of federal supervised release.
Charges against Polanco were brought as the result of a months-long investigation by the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force, which includes members of federal, state, and local law enforcement and targets gang activity in the metropolitan Providence area. The investigation included Polanco and others being captured on an undercover FBI videotape attending an organizational meeting of the Trinitarios street gang in Rhode Island.
Polanco’s sentence was announced by United States Attorney Peter F. Neronha and Richard DesLauriers, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Boston Field Office.
According to court documents and information presented to the court by federal prosecutors, the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force was able to attend and record an organizing meeting of the Trinitarios street gang on June 12, 2010. Seventeen people were present and identified. Among other things, it was discussed that John Polanco was the leader, or “primera,” of the local chapter; that they would collect money for weapons, lawyers, and brothers in jail; two people were made members at the meeting (one provisionally); and they recited the gang prayer.
As a result of information gained by the Safe Streets Task Force, the FBI was able to purchase firearms on two occasions from Polanco while he was wearing a probation ankle bracelet. Polanco also participated in at least two Ecstasy conspiracies. Polanco, previously convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm, was released from prison five days prior to attending the meeting and was on federal supervised release at the time. He was arrested and detained in August 2010.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Richard B. Myrus and Richard W. Rose.
The matter was investigated by members of the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force, comprised of agents and investigators from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF); Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office; Rhode Island State Police; Providence and Cranston Police Departments; and the Rhode Island Army National Guard.