News Release
U.S. Department of Justice
Peter F. Neronha
United States Attorney
District of Rhode Island
January 7, 2010
NEWPORT DRUG TRAFFICKER SENTENCED TO 10 YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON
Providence, R.I. – A Newport, R.I. man who admitted to federal drug agents and Newport police that he intended to sell approximately four pounds of marijuana they found stashed in his attic was sentenced Friday in U.S. District Court in Providence to 120 months in federal prison, to be followed by 5 years of supervised release. Samuel Garcia, 27, pled guilty in August 2010 to one count each of possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute, possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute, felon in possession of a firearm, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
Garcia’s sentence, which was imposed by U.S. District Court Chief Judge Mary M. Lisi, was announced by U.S. Attorney Peter F. Neronha; Steve Derr, special agent in charge of the New England field division of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); and Newport police chief Michael G. McKenna.
A the time of the defendant’s guilty plea, Assistant U.S. Attorney Sandra R. Hebert told the court that on April 28, 2010, members of the DEA Drug Task Force and Newport Police executed a search warrant at the residence of Samuel Garcia and his girlfriend. During the execution of the warrant, Garcia told investigators that there were approximately four pounds of marijuana in the attic. Officers also discovered marijuana, cocaine and a 9mm handgun with ammunition in Garcia’s bedroom.
Garcia admitted to investigators that the marijuana, the cocaine, and the firearm belonged to him, and that he started selling drugs three to four weeks prior to the search of his apartment because he was going to lose his apartment. Garcia also admitted that he purchased the firearm in New Hampshire and that he intended to sell it for a profit. He has been detained since his arrest.
The DEA Drug Task Force is comprised of agents and law enforcement officers from the DEA, ATF, IRS, ICE, Rhode Island State Police, and Cranston, East Providence, Pawtucket, Providence, Newport, Warwick and Woonsocket police departments.
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Contact: 401-709-5357
USARI.Media@usdoj.gov
