United States Drug Enforcement Administration

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – A Providence man pleaded guilty in federal court on Thursday to a charge of conspiracy to possess 500 grams or more of cocaine with the intent to distribute, at the same time admitting to a federal judge that conspiracy members kidnapped a U.S. Postal Service (USPS) worker at gunpoint while in search of cocaine they claimed was missing from a delivered package, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.

According to information presented to the court, on June 8, 2021, Irving Medina, 35, participated in surveillance efforts so that co-conspirators could retrieve three packages containing cocaine that were mailed from Puerto Rico and were delivered or scheduled for delivery at addresses associated with his co-conspirator. The contents of those three packages were analyzed by a forensic chemist who determined that they contained a total of over 3 kilograms of cocaine. 

In addition to admitting his role in the conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, Irving Medina admitted that he willfully assisted his co-conspirators in conducting surveillance outside of a USPS post office on May 28, 2021.  On that date, co-conspirators allegedly identified a USPS mailman that they wanted to abduct.  Irving Medina admitted to subsequently assisting co-conspirators in conducting surveillance outside the USPS mailman’s home on May 29, 2021.

As part of the investigation, on August 31, 2021, law enforcement executed a court-authorized search warrant at Irving Medina’s residence, and seized numerous items associated with drug trafficking, including $800 in cash, fifty bags filled with powder that a forensic lab determined to be fentanyl, three bags filled with cocaine base, and a cutting agent called Manitol.

Medina is scheduled to be sentenced on June 13, 2024. The defendant’s sentence will be determined by a federal district judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christine D, Lowell and Sandra R. Hebert.

The matter was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service, with the assistance of Pawtucket Police, Rhode Island State Police Violent Fugitive Task Force, Rhode Island State Police K-9 Unit, and the Rhode Island High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force.