News Release
U.S. Department of Justice
United States Attorney
District of Rhode Island
August 31, 2007
15-year sentence for drugs and a gun
A federal judge today sentenced Robert Viruet, 38, of Pawtucket, to a total of 181 months in federal prison for trafficking in crack cocaine and having a gun. In August 2005, Pawtucket Police seized from an apartment on Mineral Spring Avenue almost a half kilogram of crack cocaine, some powder cocaine, and a .25 caliber pistol, all of which they linked to Viruet.
United States Attorney Robert Clark Corrente announced the sentence, which U.S. District Court Judge William E. Smith imposed in U.S. District Court, Providence.
In June 2006, Viruet pleaded guilty to three charges: possessing with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base, possessing with intent to distribute cocaine, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
At the plea hearing, Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie S. Browne said the government could prove that, on August 26, 2005, Pawtucket Police officers conducted a court-authorized search of an apartment linked to Viruet. From a safe under a bed, the officers seized six bags of crack cocaine, one bag of powder cocaine, and a loaded .25 caliber pistol. Other officers arrested Viruet after stopping his car while the search was under way.
Viruet initially claimed that he was storing the safe for a friend, who had paid him $200 to do so.
Judge Smith sentenced Viruet to 121 months for the drug offenses, and an additional 60 months for having the gun. Federal law mandates a consecutive five year sentence for having a gun in connection with drug trafficking.
Contact: 401-709-5032 Thomas.connell@usdoj.gov