Two Providence men sentenced to decades in state prison for trafficking fentanyl, possessing ghost guns

Two Providence men sentenced to decades in state prison for trafficking fentanyl, possessing ghost guns

Published on Wednesday, July 17, 2024

Attorney General Peter F. Neronha announced that a pair of Providence men have been sentenced in Providence County Superior Court to serve a combined 41 years at the Adult Correctional Institutions (ACI) for trafficking 16 kilograms of fentanyl and possessing two ghost guns.

At a hearing on July 11, 2024, Superior Court Justice Robert D. Krause sentenced Miguel Cruz (age 33) to 33 years at the ACI with 23 years to serve and a 10-year suspended sentence, and Angel Camilo (age 23) to 28 years with 18 years to serve and a 10-year suspended sentence.

The sentencing stems from a 2021 investigation by the Rhode Island State Police (RISP) High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force into narcotics distribution in the greater Providence area.

On April 9, 2024, in a hearing before Justice Krause, the defendants each pled guilty to possession of over one kilogram of fentanyl, possession of over one kilogram of para-Flourofentanyl, conspiracy to violate Rhode Island's Uniform Controlled Substances Act, possession of a ghost gun, and possession of a ghost gun while possessing with intent to distribute a controlled substance.

"The devastating impact of the opioid epidemic continues to wreak havoc on our Rhode Island community, with fentanyl specifically responsible for 78% of overdoses in our state in 2023," said Attorney General Neronha. "To curb this tragic trend, we are targeting the significant traffickers that are driving the fentanyl supply into our communities. These defendants were the primary culprits behind one of the largest fentanyl seizures in our state's history, and they deserve every bit of the sentence they received. I am grateful to the Rhode Island State Police for their outstanding work and partnership in this case."

Had the cases proceeded to trial, the State was prepared to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendants operated a significant narcotics trafficking operation in the greater Providence area before their arrest in 2021.

Following an investigation, members of the RISP HIDTA Task Force executed search warrants at residences in Providence and Cranston, as well as several vehicles where they seized significant amounts of fentanyl, two ghost guns, cash, and narcotics paraphernalia.

At a residence on Marlborough Street in Providence, investigators discovered that the basement was converted into a quasi-lab where fentanyl was processed.

In total, investigators seized approximately 16 kilograms of fentanyl, which was laced with para-Flourofentanyl, tramadol, and xylazine; approximately $20,000 in cash, two 9mm Polymer80 ghost guns; and narcotics paraphernalia.

"Each day, the men and women of the State Police work to prevent the distribution of deadly narcotics in Rhode Island," said Colonel Darnell S. Weaver. "We appreciate the work of the Attorney General and his team to bring these individuals to justice."

Special Assistant Attorneys General Daniel Hopkins and Alyse Antone Smyth of the Office of the Attorney General led the prosecution of the case.

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