Guatemalan National Admits to Illegal Reentry, Trafficking Heroin

PROVIDENCE – A Guatemalan national removed from the United States in June 2004 admitted in federal court in Providence today that he reentered the country illegally, and while in the country illegally in February 2019 sold an individual nearly a kilogram of heroin.

Eduardo Alvarez-Gamez, 42, of Providence, was arrested by members of the Rhode Island Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Task Force on February 26, 2019, moments after, for the second time in four hours, he sold an individual significant quantities of heroin. According to information presented to the Court, both transactions occurred while Alvarez-Gomez was under surveillance by members of the DEA drug task force that were investigating his drug trafficking activities. He was arrested after making the second delivery while inside a vehicle in the vicinity of his Providence residence.

Appearing today before U.S. District Court Chief Judge William E. Smith, Alvarez-Gamez pleaded guilty to entry into the United States after removal and distribution of 100 grams or more of heroin, announced United States Attorney Aaron L. Weisman and Special Agent in Charge of the DEA’s New England Field Division Brian D. Boyle.

Alvarez-Gamez is scheduled to be sentenced on December 20, 2019. Illegal reentry is punishable by statutory penalties of up to 20 years imprisonment followed by 3 years supervised release. Distribution of more than 100 grams of heroin is punishable by a term of between 5 - 40 years imprisonment to be followed by a mandatory term of supervised release of 4 years.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul F. Daly, Jr.

The Rhode Island DEA Drug Task Force is comprised of law enforcement personnel from DEA, Rhode Island State Police, and the East Providence, Central Falls, Coventry, Cranston, Newport, North Kingstown, Pawtucket, Providence, South Kingstown, Warwick, West Warwick and Woonsocket Police Departments.