Twenty-Four Individuals Imprisoned, 12 Others Face Deportation in Sweeping Investigation Targeting Armed Drug Dealers and Gang Members
Operation Gas Takes 15 Firearms and More Than 23 Kilograms of Heroin off the Streets of Providence, Dismantles MS-13 Street Gang

PROVIDENCE, RI—A sweeping, more than two-year investigation into the trafficking of heroin by armed drug dealers in Providence and surrounding areas has resulted in the imprisonment of 24 individuals, the arrest and detention of 12 others who face deportation on alleged immigration violations, and the dismantling of the MS-13 Providence street gang.

The investigation, dubbed Operation Gas, was conducted by a task force composed of federal agents from the FBI; DEA; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; and Homeland Security Investigations; detectives and officers from the Rhode Island State Police Providence Police, Cranston Police, Newport Police, Pawtucket Police, and Woonsocket Police Departments; and prosecutors from the United States Attorney’s Office and the Rhode Island Department of Attorney General.

The investigation targeted the trafficking of heroin from the Dominican Republic and Guatemala to Rhode Island and the distribution of that heroin by armed drug dealers in Providence and surrounding areas. The investigation led to the seizure of more than 23 kilograms of heroin, including the largest single seizure in Rhode Island, as well as the seizure of over 100 grams of cocaine, 15 firearms, more than $400,000 in cash, and 12 vehicles. The drug trafficking investigation led to a subsequent investigation that targeted leaders, members and associates of the MS-13 Providence street gang who were involved in gang-on-gang violence, firearms sales, and drug distribution.

The subsequent prosecution of those involved resulted in the conviction and imprisonment of 24 individuals, including the leaders and known members of the MS-13 Providence street gang, on drugs, firearms, assault, and arson charges, and of a convicted heroin trafficker who attempted to hire a person to murder his girlfriend.

In addition, 12 individuals identified as members and associates of the MS-13 Providence street gang and the SUR-13 street gang were detained by Homeland Security Investigations on alleged immigration violations. Many of the individuals have already been deported.

“Armed gang activity and associated drug dealing continue to plague Providence and other urban neighborhoods across our state,” said United States Attorney Peter F. Neronha. “History has taught us only too well: gangs and drug dealing inevitably lead to gun violence. To effectively combat this violence, we must continue to do more than simply wait for the shooting to stop and assess the carnage. Only a proactive approach, targeting the worst of the worst and bringing them to justice before the shooting starts, can lead to a safer Rhode Island.”

“This is an example where another team challenged ours and lost,” said Vincent Lisi, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Boston Division, which is responsible for Rhode Island. “Gang members who want to fill the vacuum left by these arrests should know the Safe Streets Task force will always win over those who chose a life of crime by holding responsible those who put illegal guns on our streets, deal heroin in our neighborhoods, and commit other crimes in our cities.”

"DEA is committed to the dismantling of criminal organizations that bring drugs and violence into our neighborhoods," said John J. Arvanitis, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New England Field Division. "Our commitment is unwavering, and together with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, we will continue to target violent drug trafficking organizations operating throughout our communities."

“Cooperation among local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies and prosecutors led to the successful disruption of the MS-13 gang in Providence. Targeting criminal activity by gangs and gang members before violence erupts is critical in bringing greater security to our urban communities,” said Attorney General Peter Kilmartin.

“As I have stated in the past, investigations like this are a message as to how we leverage our partnerships and combine our efforts to dismantle organized gang and drug activity. Operations like this are what makes the community safer and also sends a strong message to those involved in the gun, gang, and drug trade,” said Colonel Hugh Clements.

Among the defendants arrested, convicted, and imprisoned as a result of Operation Gas:

• Jose Victor Fernandez, 47, Providence: Jose Fernandez was arrested in April 20, 2011, following a lengthy investigation into his suspected heroin trafficking activities. In addition to numerous undercover purchases of heroin, law enforcement seized two kilograms of heroin discovered concealed inside car parts shipped from Guatemala to an auto dealership where Fernandez worked. During the investigation into Fernandez’s drug trafficking activities, law enforcement learned that Fernandez was attempting to hire a person to murder his girlfriend. Fernandez was convicted in federal court of attempted murder for hire, as well as multiple heroin distribution charges. Fernandez is serving a sentence of 97 months in federal prison.
• Jose Dume, Jr., 29, Providence; and Ariel Hassel, aka Miguel Angel Colon, 33, Cranston: In the fall of 2011, the FBI and DEA began investigating a Dominican drug trafficking organization that distributed heroin, and on occasion cocaine, to customers in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. According to information presented to the court, Jose Dume, Jr. was identified by law enforcement as the leader of this conspiracy. The investigation revealed that Dume purchased kilogram quantities of heroin from Ariel Hassel. It is estimated that over the course of the conspiracy, Dume purchased approximately three kilos of heroin, often in 500 to 600 gram increments, which he then sold to various customers throughout Rhode Island.
  
  During the course of the investigation into Dume and Hassel’s drug trafficking and firearm trafficking activities—which included undercover drug and firearms purchases, the use of electronic monitoring and surveillance equipment, and the execution of court authorized search warrants and wiretaps—law enforcement seized four firearms, about 2.5 kilograms of heroin, over $400,000 in cash, jewelry valued at more than $60,000, and 12 vehicles from residences in Providence, Cranston, and West Warwick. The wiretap investigation led to the arrest and conviction of 14 individuals including Dume, Hassel, their partners, and drug runners, as well as customers. Among those arrested was Vlady Tejada, a fugitive on federal drug charges out of the District of Massachusetts.
  
  Dume and Hassel were arrested by federal agents on May 11, 2012. Dume pleaded guilty in October 2013 to federal conspiracy, heroin trafficking, and firearm charges. He was sentenced on October 21, 2013, to 15 years in federal prison. Hassel pleaded guilty in July 2013 to heroin and cocaine trafficking charges. He was sentenced in July 2013 to 90 months in federal prison.
• Jorge Daniel Estrada, 19, Providence; and Angel Feliz, 48, Dorchester, Massachusetts: In October 2012, the DEA arrested Jorge Daniel Estrada and Angel Feliz on charges of conspiracy to distribute 17 kilograms of heroin. In addition to seizing 17 kilos of heroin, police seized three vehicles. The arrests of Jose Fernandez, Jorge Estrada and Angel Feliz, prompted by information developed by Providence Police detectives, resulted in the seizure of a total of 19 kilograms of heroin valued at $4.5 million dollars, the largest single seizure of heroin in Rhode Island. Estrada and Feliz have been sentenced to 180 and 70 months in federal prison, respectively.
• Francisco Bonilla, a/k/a “Cisco,” 35, Providence: In October 2012, Francisco Bonilla, the alleged leader of the MS-13 Providence street gang, was indicted by a Rhode Island state court grand jury on assault and weapons charges. He pleaded guilty in January 2013 and is currently serving a 10-year prison sentence at the ACI. Bonilla, a citizen of El Salvador, will face deportation proceedings upon completion of his prison term.
• Richard Ibenez, a/k/a "Chinoz", 23, Providence: In October 2012, Richard Ibenez, a member of the MS-13 Providence street gang, was indicted by a Rhode Island state court grand jury on conspiracy and arson charges. He pleaded guilty in January 2013 and is currently serving an eight-year prison sentence at the ACI.

Defendants charged in the U.S. District Court were prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adi Goldstein, Paul F. Daly, Jr., Sandra R. Hebert, Milind M. Shah, and First Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth P. Madden. Defendants charged in Rhode Island state court were prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General James Baum.

Operation Gas Defendants:

• Wayne Barnes, 53, Providence
  Drug and firearms charges
  Three years in federal prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release
• Francisco A. Bonilla a/k/a Cisco, 35, Providence
  MS-13 gang leader
  Assault & firearms charges
  20 years, 10 years to serve at ACI; 10 years suspended with probation
• Miguel Colon a/k/a Ariel Hassel, 33, Cranston
  Heroin and cocaine trafficking charges
  90 months in federal prison, to be followed by five years’ supervised release
  Faces deportation proceedings
• Juan Cotto, 45, Providence
  Conspiracy
  24 months in federal prison, to be followed by five years’ supervised release
• Jose Dume, Jr., 39, Providence
  Leader of heroin trafficking conspiracy
  Heroin trafficking and firearm charges
  15 years in federal prison, to be followed by five years’ supervised release
  Faces deportation proceedings
• Angel Feliz, 48, Dorchester, Massachusetts
  Heroin trafficking charges
  70 months in federal prison, to be followed by three years’ supervised release
• Christian Ferrer, 28, Providence
  Drug source for MS-13 gang
  Conspiracy and cocaine trafficking charges
  71 months in federal prison, to be followed by five years’ supervised release
• Cristian Jimenez, 34, Providence
  Convicted at trial in June 2013 on charges of trafficking heroin
  Detained
• Angel Maria Marte, 49, Providence
  Heroin trafficking charges
  80 months in federal prison, to be followed by five years’ supervised release
  Faces deportation proceedings
• Estevan Benzan, 29, Providence
  Heroin trafficking
  70 months in federal prison, to be followed by five years’ supervised release
  Faces deportation proceedings
• Janet Cobian, 24, Taunton, Massachusetts
  Heroin possession and distribution charges
  Five years’ probation
• Louis Cortez a/k/a Cholo, 37, Providence
  SUR-13 gang member
  Firearm possession
  Six months' confinement, to be followed by five years’ supervised release
• Alejandro Delacruz, a/k/a Alex, 28, Providence
  C-Block gang member
  Conspiracy and firearm charges
  51 months in federal prison, to be followed by three years’ supervised release
• Jorge Daniel Estrada, 19, Guatemala
  Conspiracy and heroin trafficking charges 15 years in federal prison followed by lifetime supervised release. Immigration detainer lodged
• Jose “Victor” Fernandez, 47, Providence
  Heroin trafficking and murder for hire charges
  97 months in federal prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release
• Richard Ibanez a/k/a Chinoz, 23, Providence
  MS-13 gang member
  Conspiracy and arson charges
  20 years, eight years to serve at ACI 12 years suspended withprobation
• Michael Linaris, 36, Providence
  Firearm charge
  24 months in federal prison, to be followed by three years’ supervised release
• Yelkis Martinez ,36, Providence
  Maintaining a drug involved premises and fraud charges
  30 months in federal prison, followed by three years’ supervised release
  Faces deportation proceedings
• Geovannie Nieves, 28, West Warwick
  Heroin trafficking charges
  90 months in federal prison, followed by five years’ supervised release
  Faces deportation proceedings
• Adalberto Pagan a/k/a Bebo, 28, Providence
  Firearm source for MS-13
  Firearm charges
  37 months in federal prison, followed by three years’ supervised release
• Vlady Tejada, 33, Boston, Massachusetts
  Heroin and cocaine trafficking charges
  71 months in federal prison, to be followed by four years’ supervised release
  Faces deportation proceedings
• Leopoldo Nunez, 26, Providence
  Firearms charges
  60 months in federal prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release
• Alexander Ramos, 42, Providence
  Cocaine conspiracy and distribution
  70 months in federal prison, followed by five years’ supervised release
• Dewrys Marte Valerio, 28, Providence
  Heroin and cocaine trafficking charges
  80 months in federal prison, followed by five years’ supervised release

The following defendants were detained by Homeland Security Investigations on alleged immigration violations. Several of the defendants have been deported.

• Carlos Esau Arreaga Lopez, a/k/a Duende, 27, Guatemala
  MS-13 gang member
• Orlando Ramon Gonzalez Lopez, a/k/a Pikachu 33, Mexico MS-13 gang member
• Fari Armando Nava Tlapale, a/k/a Fatty, 21, Mexico MS-13 gang member
• Alberto Ozuna Ramirez, a/k/a Pepo, 23, Mexico
  MS-13 gang member
• Jose Leonida Villalobos Rodriguez, a/k/a Jumbo, 27, El Salvador
  MS-13 gang member
• Victor Hugo Amaro, 30, Mexico
  MS-13 gang associate
• Arturo Cruz, a/k/a Edison Arturo Cruz Esperanza, 24, Honduras
  MS-13 gang member
• Fredy Saravia, 37, Guatemala MS-13 gang associate
• Edgar Coronado, a/k/a Chino, 33, Guatemala
  MS-13 gang member
• Luis Salgado, a/k/a Pee-Wee, 22, Mexico
  SUR-13 gang member
• Wagner Miranda, a/k/a Alex, 23, Guatemala
  MS-13 gang member
• Jose Borjas, a/k/a Catracho, 36, Honduras
  MS-13 gang associate