Two Charged With Witness Tampering In Joint Woonsocket Police, DEA Investigation

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Joshua Rojas, a/k/a Joshua Ramos, 19, of Woonsocket, and Victor Burgos, a/k/a Fat Boy, 20, of Providence, have been charged in federal court in Providence with witness tampering in connection with a joint Woonsocket Police Department and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) investigation into the alleged trafficking of Fentanyl Acetyl analogue, a Schedule 1 controlled substance.

In addition, Burgos has been charged with one count each of possession with the intent to distribute Fentanyl Acetyl analogue and distribution of Fentanyl Acetyl analogue.

The charges were announced by United States Attorney Peter F. Neronha, Woonsocket Police Chief Thomas S. Carey and John J. Arvanitis, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA’s New England Field Division.

 According to information presented to the court, it is alleged that Rojas and Burgos took threatening actions and made threatening remarks in an effort to intimidate a person cooperating with law enforcement in an investigation into the alleged trafficking of Fentanyl Acetyl analogue.

Burgos, who has been detained for violating terms of his release on a federal criminal complaint issued on May 17, 2013, charging him with distribution and possession with the intent to distribute Fentanyl Acetyl analogue, was charged by way of a federal grand jury indictment returned on June 5, 2013, with one count each of use of threat of physical force against a person with the intent to influence, delay or prevent the testimony any person in an official proceeding; distribution of Fentanyl Acetyl analogue; and possession with the intent to distribute Fentanyl Acetyl analogue.

Burgos is scheduled to be arraigned on June 11, 2013. If convicted, Burgos faces a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison on each charge.

Rojas, who was charged by way of a federal criminal complaint on June 4, 2013, with one count of intentionally harassing another person and thereby attempting to hinder, delay, prevent or dissuade any person from attending or testifying in an official proceeding, was ordered detained following an initial appearance before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Patricia A. Sullivan.

If convicted, Rojas faces a maximum sentence of up to 3 years in federal prison.

An indictment and a criminal complaint 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. Attorney Pamela E. Chin.

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