Gang Associate Pleads Guilty to Drug Trafficking and Firearms Charges

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Antonio Fortes, 25, of Cranston, an associate of the YNIC street gang, pleaded guilty in federal court in Providence today to trafficking heroin and cocaine, and to being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced United States Attorney Peter F. Neronha and Daniel J. Kumor, Special Agent in Charge of the Boston Field Division of ATF.

Fortes, who is scheduled to be sentenced on December 3, 2015, is also facing murder and weapons charges in Rhode Island state court for his alleged role in the October 22, 2014, shooting in Providence that resulted in the death of Terry Robinson.  Fortes is charged in state court with one count of murder, three counts of discharge of a firearm while in the commission of a crime of violence, two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, two counts of carrying a firearm without a license, and one count of conspiracy.

According to federal court documents and information presented to the court, an investigation by ATF agents into Fortes drug trafficking activities included controlled purchases of crack cocaine and repeated surveillance by law enforcement. The investigation culminated with the execution of a court authorized federal search warrant on March 24, 2015, at Fortes’ Cranston residence. The search resulted in the seizure of numerous packets of heroin, crack cocaine and a loaded .45 caliber handgun.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Milind M. Shah and William J. Ferland.

Law enforcement officers from the Cranston, Pawtucket and Providence Police Departments assisted agents from ATF in the investigation of this matter.