Providence Man Charged With Witness Intimidation in Project Safe Neighborhoods Cases

PROVIDENCE, RI – A Providence man arrested a week ago on federal indictments charging him with unlawfully selling four firearms, including two AR-47 assault rifles, was re-arrested yesterday and ordered detained in federal custody on a criminal complaint charging him with witness intimidation.

According to the criminal complaint, it is alleged that soon after his arraignment in U.S. District Court last Thursday, Emmanuel Miamen, 24, posted several threatening messages on social media directed at his indictment and a person who assisted the FBI in the Project Safe Neighborhoods Investigation.

On Tuesday, United States Attorney Stephen G. Dambruch, FBI Boston Division Special Agent in Charge Harold H. Shaw and ATF Boston Division Assistant Special Agent in Charge Kenneth K. Kwak announced the indictment of twenty-six individuals over the past 18 months in a series of Project Safe Neighborhoods investigations into firearm and drug trafficking in and around Providence.

It is alleged in two indictments returned against Miamen that in May and June 2018, he conspired with others to unlawfully sell two AR-47 assault rifles and two handguns. Additionally, it is alleged in the indictment, Miamen offered that he had a grenade launcher for sale for $8,000.

A criminal complaint and indictment are merely allegations and are not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Richard W. Rose and Terrence P. Donnelly.

The matter was investigated by the FBI.

###