News Release
U.S. Department of Justice
Peter F. Neronha
United States Attorney
District of Rhode Island

July 9, 2010

FIVE YEARS IN PRISON FOR PROVIDENCE CRACK COCAINE DEALER

A Providence man was sentenced Friday to 60 months in federal prison and 4 years supervised release, having pleaded guilty to four counts of possessing and distributing crack cocaine. Jason Faiola, 28, also known as MJ, pleaded guilty in January in U.S. District Court in Providence to three counts of possession of five grams or more of crack cocaine with the intent to distribute and one count of possession of crack cocaine with the intent to distribute.

The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Peter F. Neronha, which was imposed by U.S. District Court Chief Judge Mary M. Lisi.

At the time of Faiola’s guilty plea, Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard W. Rose told the court, had the case gone to trial, the government was prepared to present evidence that on four occasions between February 12 and March 5, 2009 Faiola sold crack cocaine to undercover agents. All of the drug transactions were electronically recorded, and ranged in weights from 1.79 grams to 5.70 grams.

The matter was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Providence Police and Warwick Police.