Armed Drug Trafficker Pleads Guilty

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Kevin Bates, 38, of Attleboro, Mass., pleaded guilty in federal court in Providence on Tuesday to being an armed drug trafficker, and faces statutory penalties of up to life in federal prison when he is sentenced in June, announced United States Attorney Peter F. Neronha and Providence Police Chief Colonel Hugh T. Clements, Jr.

 Bates was arrested by Providence Police in October 2013, after a routine traffic stop resulted in the discovery of nearly 245 grams of cocaine and a loaded firearm in Bates’ vehicle.

According to court documents, shortly after midnight on October 19, 2013, Providence police, who had increased patrols on the East Side because of a spate of thefts, saw a car slowly circling in the area. The car repeatedly failed to indicate its turns with a turn light or signal.   Due to the traffic violations and the late night circling in the residential neighborhood, police stopped the car.  As detectives approached the car, Bates appeared startled and nervous. Detectives saw Bates reaching down beneath the driver's seat.  

A search of the vehicle resulted in the discovery of a plastic bag containing nearly 245 grams of cocaine, a loaded .380 caliber handgun under the front seat and $2,500 in cash. Bates admitted to police and to the court that the firearm was his, and that he had purchased it for $500 for protection. The firearm had previously been reported stolen.

Bates, who previously was convicted of drug trafficking and firearm charges, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to one count each of possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute, being a felon in possession of a firearm and being in possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

Bates, who faces statutory sentences of up to 30 years in prison for possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute and being a felon in possession of a firearm, and a statutory consecutive sentence of a maximum of life imprisonment with a mandatory minimum term of 5 years imprisonment, is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge William E. Smith on June 12, 2015.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Milind M. Shah.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives assisted Providence Police in the investigation of this matter.

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