United States Drug Enforcement Administration

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - John J. Arvanitis, Special Agent in Charge of the  Drug Enforcement Administration’s New England Field Division, United States Attorney Peter F. Neronha and Richard DesLauriers, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Boston Field Office announced Cristian Jimenez, a/k/a Alacran, 32, of Providence, faces between ten years to life in federal prison at sentencing after a federal court jury on Monday convicted him of one count of conspiracy to possess and distribute heroin and three counts of possession and distribution of heroin.

Jimenez was one of eleven individuals identified by law enforcement as being members of a Dominican organization that trafficked heroin into Rhode Island. The other 10 individuals charged and arrested in this matter previously pled guilty in U.S. District Court in Providence.

The jury acquitted Jimenez of one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes.
An investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Safe Streets Gang Task Force, and the Drug Enforcement Administration Drug Task Force, Rhode Island State Police and local law enforcement officers assigned to the task forces resulted in the execution of federal search warrants and arrest warrants in May 2012 in Providence, Cranston, North Providence, Pawtucket, and West Warwick, R.I. More than three kilos of heroin, approximately 200 grams of cocaine, approximately $450,000 in cash, a substantial quantity of high-end jewelry, five firearms - four of them loaded, and twelve vehicles - several of which contained “hides” were seized by law enforcement.

According to the government’s evidence presented at trial, on numerous occasions Jimenez bought and sold significant quantities of heroin and directed the packaging and distribution of the drugs. The government’s evidence showed that Jimenez’s Providence residence was one of the primary locations used by the drug trafficking organization to package and distribute significant quantities of heroin.

Jimenez, who has been detained since his arrest on September 26, 2012, is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge William E. Smith on September 13, 2013.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Adi Goldstein and First Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth P. Madden.

The FBI’s Safe Streets Gang Task Force consists of agents and law enforcement officers from the FBI; Providence, Cranston and Woonsocket Police Departments and the Rhode Island National Guard.

The DEA Drug Task Force consists of agents and law enforcement officers from the DEA, Rhode Island State Police, and the Cranston, East Providence, Pawtucket, Providence, Warwick, Newport, and Woonsocket Police Departments.