Tiverton Resident Sentenced To 5 Years In Federal Prison On Drug Trafficking, Firearm Charges

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Ian D. Andrade, 37, of Tiverton, was sentenced today to 60 months in federal prison for trafficking cocaine and possessing a firearm in furtherance of his drug trafficking activities, announced United States Attorney Peter F. Neronha and Newport Police Chief Gary T. Silva.

At sentencing, U.S. District Court Judge John J. McConnell, Jr. also ordered Andrade to serve 3 years supervised release upon completion of his prison term. Andrade pleaded guilty on May 21, 2014, to one count each of possession with the intent to distribute cocaine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

Andrade was arrested by Newport Police on November 8, 2013, after an investigation by members of the Newport Police Department’s Vice Unit led to the seizure of 366 grams of cocaine and a loaded handgun from a hide inside Andrade’s vehicle.

According to court documents and information presented to the court, in the fall of 2013, members of the Newport Police Department Vice Unit developed information into Andrade’s drug trafficking activities. Detectives determined that Andrade was using a vehicle with a hidden compartment inside to facilitate the trafficking of cocaine.

According to court documents and information presented to the court, on November 8, 2013, members of the Newport Police Department observed as Andrade and a juvenile female entered the vehicle outside a Newport residence and then drove away.  A uniformed Newport Police officer stopped the vehicle a short distance away and advised Andrade of a court authorized search warrant for the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the Newport Police Department and searched, during which time detectives seized from a secret compartment behind the front passenger seat a loaded .22 caliber handgun and a plastic container containing 366 grams of cocaine in 39 packages in quantities consistent with distribution. Andrade also turned over $4,435 in cash from his person.

At the time of his arrest and at the time of his guilty plea before the court, Andrade admitted to possessing the cocaine and the firearm seized from the vehicle, and that he used the firearm to protect his drugs.  Andrade admitted that the $4,435 in cash seized was proceeds from his drug trafficking activities.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Pamela E. Chin.

The Rhode Island DEA Drug Task Force assisted Newport Police in this matter.

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