Cranston Business Owner Sentenced on Drug Trafficking, Firearm Charges

PROVIDENCE –  Bassam K. Naiefeh, 48, of Cranston, owner of AAA Gas Mart in Cranston, was sentenced today to 12 months and 1 day in federal prison for conspiracy to possess and distribute oxycodone, and for being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced Acting United States Attorney Stephen G. Dambruch and Michael J. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New England Field Division.

At sentencing, U.S. District Court Chief Judge William E. Smith also ordered Naiefeh to serve 3 years supervised release and to perform 300 hours of community service upon completion of his prison sentence. Naiefeh pleaded guilty on March 22, 2017, to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute oxycodone, and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

The U.S. Sentencing Guidelines range of imprisonment in this matter is 41-51 months. The government recommended the court impose a sentence of 41 months in prison.

According to information presented to the court, between April and November 2016 , DEA Drug Task Force undercover agents made 8 controlled purchases of oxycodone from Naiefeh and a co-conspirator acting at his direction. In total, DEA agents purchased 560 oxycodone tablets.

On November 14, 2016, DEA agents and other members of law enforcement executed a court authorized search of Naiefeh’s business and seized additional narcotics and a .32 caliber revolver. Naiefeh was arrested.

According to court records, Naiefeh was previously convicted in Rhode Island state court of a crime punishable by a term of imprisonment exceeding one year.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Dulce Donovan.

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