News Release [print-friendly version]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 12, 2006

Federal grand jury charges six with drug-trafficking offenses

A federal grand jury has returned three indictments charging six men with drug-trafficking offenses. All six defendants are in state or federal custody.

June Stansbury, Special Agent in Charge of the New England Field Office of the Drug Enforcement Administration and United States Attorney Robert Clark Corrente and, jointly announced the indictments, which the grand jury returned on June 7 in U.S. District Court, Providence.

One indictment charges Oscar R. Sandoval-Espana, also known as Eddie Alberto Ramos, of Pawtucket, and Manual A. Mendez-Herasme, address unknown, with possessing with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine on May 25.

In another indictment, the grand jury alleges that, between December 2005 and May 27, Ancelmo A. Castillo, age and address unknown, and Roberto E. Olivo, 43, of Providence, conspired to distribute and possess with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin.

The third indictment charges Sandy Baez and Manuel Alberto Nogueira-Reico, ages and addresses unknown, with two charges: conspiring to distribute and distributing 100 grams or more of heroin on May 10. It also charges Baez with assaulting a Drug Enforcement Administration agent on the same day.

An indictment is merely an allegation and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. Upon conviction, the penalty for possessing with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine or one kilogram ore more of heroin is 10 years to life imprisonment and a $4,000,000 fine. The maximum penalty for conspiracy to distribute heroin and distributing heroin is 40 years imprisonment and a $2,000,000 fine. The maximum penalty for assaulting a federal law enforcement officer is 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

The Drug Enforcement Administration and the DEA Task Force investigated the cases.