Alleged Marijuana Trafficker Detained On Federal Firearms And Drug Charges

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Casey J. Dunphy, 38, of Providence, was ordered detained in federal custody on April 11, 2013, following an initial appearance in federal court on firearms and drug charges, announced United States Attorney Peter F. Neronha, Providence Police Chief Colonel Hugh T. Clements, Jr., and Eugenio A. Marquez, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Boston Field Office.

Dunphy was arrested on March 22, 2013, by detectives with the Providence Police Department’s Narcotics and Organized Crime Bureau after a court authorized search of his residence resulted in the seizure of 34 marijuana plants;  containers and bags containing approximately 750 grams of marijuana; a semiautomatic assault rifle and ammunition, including two fully loaded and four unloaded magazines; a .44 caliber revolver loaded with hollow point ammunition; a shotgun; additional ammunition for each weapon, including a speed loader for the .44 caliber revolver; and $15,500 dollars in cash.

Dunphy is charged with one count each of manufacture of marijuana, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, being a felon in possession of a firearm, possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking, and possession of a semiautomatic assault weapon in furtherance of drug trafficking.

According to information provided to the court, Dunphy, a licensed medical marijuana caregiver, was serving a 5-year probationary term on a previous drug trafficking conviction in state court at the time of his arrest. Dunphy has been detained since his arrest.

According to an affidavit in support of a criminal complaint filed with the court, on March 22, 2013, detectives with the Providence Police Department’s Narcotics and Organized Crime Bureau observed an alleged drug transaction between Dunphy and another person while the two were inside a vehicle parked in front of Dunphy’s residence. According to the affidavit, after Dunphy returned to his residence, detectives followed the vehicle and stopped it a short distance away. The driver allegedly admitted to detectives that he had just bought marijuana from Dunphy, and that he had done so previously on multiple occasions. The individual allegedly told detectives that he is not enrolled as a medical marijuana patient.

A criminal complaintis merely an allegation and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Manufacture of fewer than 50 marijuana plants is punishable by a maximum sentence of 5 years in federal prison and 3 years supervised release; possession with intent to distribute less than 50 kilograms of marijuana is punishable by a maximum sentence of 5 years in federal prison and 3 years supervised release; being a felon in possession of a firearm is punishable by a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison and 3 years supervised release; possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking is punishable by a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years in federal prison, to be served consecutive to all other sentences imposed, and 3 years of supervised release; and possession of a semiautomatic assault weapon in furtherance of drug trafficking is punishable by a mandatory minimum sentence of 7 years in federal prison, to be served consecutive to all other sentences imposed, and 3 years of supervised release. 

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Milind M. Shah.

The matter was investigated by the Providence Police Department’s Narcotics and Organized Crime Bureau and ATF.

Contact: 401-709-5357
USARI.Media@usdoj.gov