News Release
U.S. Department of Justice
Peter F. Neronha
United States Attorney
District of Rhode Island
October 12, 2011
THREE SENTENCED FOR INTERSTATE TRAFFICKING OF COCAINE
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Three men involved in the trafficking of cocaine from central Connecticut to Rhode Island have been sentenced to federal prison. The men were arrested in Providence after members of the Rhode Island State Police High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force (HIDTA) tracked a shipment in December 2009 of two kilos of cocaine from Meriden, Conn., to Providence.
U.S. District Court Judge William E. Smith sentenced Edwin Torres, 34, of Cranston, R.I., to 60 months in federal prison; Robert Duran, 41, of Kissimmee, Fla., to 24 months imprisonment; and Fernando Sedano, 25, of Meriden, Conn., to 22 months in federal prison. In addition, each defendant was sentenced to serve 5 years supervised release.
The sentences were announced by U.S. Attorney Peter F. Neronha and Colonel Steven G. O’Donnell, Superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police.
According to court documents and information presented to the Court, on December 8, 2009, Fernando Sedano transported 2 kilos of cocaine from Connecticut to Rhode Island for delivery to Edwin Torres and Robert Duran. The drugs were then to have been delivered to a buyer in Rhode Island.
HIDTA agents watched as Sedano’s vehicle arrived at Torres’ Cranston residence, then drove on to Providence being led by a vehicle containing Torres and Duran. Once in Providence, Torres and Duran joined Sedano in his vehicle with Torres taking the driver’s seat. HIDTA agents followed and then stopped the vehicle. A search of the vehicle revealed the cocaine stashed under clothing inside a void in a side wall of the vehicle, under a rear speaker.
The defendants have been detained since their arrest.
The matter was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Milind M. Shah, with the assistance of Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard B. Myrus.
The Rhode Island State Police High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force is comprised of members of law enforcement from the Rhode Island State Police, ATF, DEA, ICE-HSI, R.I. National Guard, and the Johnston, Pawtucket, Providence, and Smithfield Police Departments.
This matter was investigated by members of HIDTA along with the Cranston, Central Falls and Providence Police Departments.
Contact: 401-709-5357
USARI.Media@usdoj.gov
