Providence Felon Sentenced To 5 Years In Federal Prison On Drug Trafficking, Firearm Charges

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PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Edgar Pagan, 22, formerly of Providence, was sentenced today to 60 months in federal prison for possession of crack cocaine with the intent to distribute and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Pagan was serving a state sentence of home confinement in July 2013 on a previous conviction for drug possession when he was found to be in possession of nearly 2.5 grams of crack cocaine and two firearms, one of them loaded. He was arrested by members of the Rhode Island State Police High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force.

At sentencing, U.S. District Court Chief Judge William E. Smith also sentenced Pagan to serve 3 years supervised release upon completion of his prison term. Pagan pleaded guilty on February 14, 2014.

Pagan’s sentence is announced by United States Attorney Peter F. Neronha and Colonel Steven G. O’DonnellSuperintendent of the Rhode Island State Police.

According to information presented to the court at the time of Pagan’s guilty plea, on July 17, 2013, members of the HIDTA Task Force developed information that Pagan was in possession of two firearms at his Providence residence.  Task Force officers learned that Pagan was scheduled to report to the Home Confinement Program office at the Adult Correctional Institution (ACI) for a routine appointment the next day. During the scheduled appointment, Task Force officers informed Pagan of their ongoing investigation. Pagan responded, “Let’s do this. Go there and check. I have nothing there.” Pagan agreed to allow officers to search his apartment.

According to information presented to the court, after entering the apartment with Pagan the defendant admitted to having concealed cocaine inside a pillow case on his bed. Officers located eight individually wrapped packages of crack cocaine, and Vicodin and Oxycodone pills inside the pillow case. When asked about guns, Pagan denied he had any, instead directing Task Force officers to a back bedroom and a safe containing $1,150 in cash. While in the bedroom, Task Force officers located a white padded envelope from the ACI. Inside the envelope they discovered a loaded .45 caliber Glock semi-automatic pistol and an unloaded .380 caliber semi-automatic pistol. Officers also seized items used in the packaging and distribution of crack cocaine.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Gerard B. Sullivan, with the assistance of Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard W. Rose.

The Rhode Island State Police High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force is comprised of members of law enforcement from the Rhode Island State Police, ATF, DEA, ICE-HSI, R.I. National Guard, and the Johnston, Pawtucket, Providence, and Smithfield Police Departments.

This case was brought as part of the Rhode Island Urban Violent Crime Initiative.  The Rhode Island Urban Violent Crime Initiative is a local, state and federal law enforcement collaboration to proactively identify, investigate and prosecute individuals responsible for crimes of violence in urban neighborhoods.

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Contact: 401-709-5357
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