Rhode Island Man Sentenced to 51 Months for Leadership Role in Drug Trafficking Organization

CONCORD – A Rhode Island man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Concord to conspiring to distribute fentanyl and cocaine, U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan announces.

Antonio Aguasvivas, 30 years old, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Samantha Elliott to 51 months in federal prison and 3 years of supervised release. In February 2025, Aguasvivas pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, namely, cocaine and fentanyl.  The defendant was originally charged with conspiracy on April 26, 2023, along with 20 other defendants. To date, 10 defendants have been sentenced.

“This sentence reflects the seriousness of trafficking drugs in our communities and underscores our commitment to holding those at every level of the supply chain accountable,” said U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan. “Every role within these criminal networks is critical to their operation, and all involved will be held responsible for their contribution to the drug trade in the Granite State.”

“Antonio Aguasvivas led a major drug trafficking organization in our region that pumped large quantities of deadly narcotics into our communities, profiting off the addiction of others,” said Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Boston Division. “Now Mr. Aguasvivas will spend the next four years behind bars where he can’t harm anyone else. The FBI and our partners will continue to investigate and disrupt sprawling drug trafficking operations like this one, as we work to make our neighborhoods safer.”

“New Hampshire is in the midst of a devastating opioid crisis, as deaths from fentanyl soar. The DEA will continue to use every resource available to identify those, like Mr. Aguasvivas, who are contributing to the crisis by distributing dangerous drugs like fentanyl and cocaine in our communities,” said Special Agent in Charge, Jarod Forget, New England Field Division. “Yesterday’s sentence holds Mr. Aguasvivas accountable for his crimes, and we will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to put other callous distributers like him behind bars.”

According to the plea agreement and statements made in court, the defendant played a lead role in a Massachusetts-based drug trafficking organization that distributed large quantities of fentanyl and crack cocaine in Manchester and elsewhere.  The organization used a dispatch operation to sell drugs: customers called a phone line to purchase narcotics and would speak to the defendant who would then put the customer in touch with a drug runner to complete the drug sale.  Between October 6, 2022 and March 7, 2023, law enforcement agents observed and recorded ten sales of fentanyl and crack cocaine in Manchester conducted by the defendant and others working for him.  Law enforcement obtained information that, during this timeframe, the defendant would drive to New Hampshire every day from Rhode Island to deliver large amounts of narcotics to his runners.  When customers called the dispatch line, on some occasions, the defendant would personally deliver the narcotics to customers himself, while on others, his runners would do so.  Law enforcement recovered 120 grams of fentanyl and 70 grams of crack cocaine from runners’ vehicles and drug sales the defendant conducted with individuals working for law enforcement.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Drug Enforcement Administration led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Manchester Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Kennedy is prosecuting the case. 

This effort is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

###