Federal Grand Jury Indicts Woonsocket Resident For Allegedly Trafficking Fentanyl, Heroin, Morphine & Codeine

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – A federal grand jury in Providence on Wednesday returned a five-count indictment charging Alfredo Balestier-Sanchez, aka Negro, 32, of Woonsocket, with trafficking heroin, fentanyl, morphine and codeine, announced United States Attorney Peter F. Neronha, Woonsocket Police Chief Thomas S. Carey and John J. Arvanitis, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New England field division.

Sanchez was arrested March 4, 2013, by members of the Woonsocket Police Department and the RI DEA Drug Task Force following a one month investigation into Sanchez’s alleged drug trafficking activities. According to court documents, it is alleged that several undercover drug purchases from Sanchez and a court authorized search of his Woonsocket residence resulted in the seizure of numerous packets containing various mixtures of fentanyl, heroin, morphine and codeine.

The indictment charges Sanchez with two counts of distribution of fentanyl; one count of distribution of a mixture containing heroin and fentanyl; one count of possession with the intent to distribute a mixture containing heroin and fentanyl; and one count of distribution of a mixture containing heroin, morphine and codeine.

An indictment is merely an allegation and is 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.

If convicted, Sanchez faces statutory sentences of up to 20 years in federal prison followed by 3 years to lifetime supervised release and a fine of up to $1,000,000 on each of the 5 charges contained in the indictment.

An arraignment date has not yet been scheduled for Sanchez who has been detained in federal custody since his arrest.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Pamela E. Chin.

The DEA Drug Task Force is comprised of law enforcement agents and officers from the DEA, Rhode Island State Police, and the Cranston, East Providence, Newport, Pawtucket, Providence, South Kingstown, Warwick and Woonsocket Police Departments.

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