Pawtucket Man Sentenced on Drug Trafficking, Firearm Charges

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Jose Gomez, 27, of Pawtucket, was sentenced today to 24 months in federal prison on drug trafficking and firearm charges. Gomez was arrested in September 2015, following an investigation by ATF agents into Gomez’s drug trafficking activities, which included purchases of crack cocaine from Gomez in exchange for cash and firearms.

At sentencing, U.S. District Court Judge John J. McConnell, Jr., also ordered Gomez to serve three years supervised upon completion of his prison term. Gomez pleaded guilty on April 1, 2016, to three counts of distribution of crack cocaine, one count of possession with the intent to distribute crack cocaine, and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Gomez’s sentence is announced by United States Attorney Peter F. Neronha and Lawrence J. Panetta , Interim Special Agent in Charge of the Boston Field Division of ATF.

According to court documents and information presented to the court, on August 31 and September 3, 2015, Gomez sold nearly three grams of crack cocaine for $200 in cash to an undercover ATF agent. On September 8, 2015, the ATF undercover agent arranged to meet with Gomez to trade two firearms for crack cocaine and $200 in cash. Two days later, Gomez and the undercover agent met outside Gomez’s residence and exchanged $200 in cash and a plastic bag containing crack cocaine for two firearms, a .380 caliber handgun and a 9mm handgun. Gomez was immediately detained by ATF agents. Following his arrest, Gomez told ATF agents he intended to sell the firearms to another individual.

According to information presented to the court, a court authorized search of Gomez’s residence moments after Gomez was detained resulted in the discovery of approximately four grams of crack cocaine on a digital scale which was stored on a window sill inside a bedroom. Two unattended children, ages one and two, were located in the bedroom. The bedroom doorway had been blocked to prevent the children from leaving the room.

Gomez has been detained in federal custody since his arrest on September 10, 2015.

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

ATF was assisted in the investigation of this matter by the Pawtucket and Central Falls Police Departments, and the Special Investigations Unit at the Adult Correctional Institutions.

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email: USARI.Media@usdoj.gov

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