United States Drug Enforcement Administration

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Victor Sena, aka "V," 35, of Cranston, R.I., was ordered detained in federal custody today by U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Lincoln D. Almond, having been charged with possession of fentanyl with the intent to distribute, announced John J. Arvanitis, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration'(DEA) New England Field Division and United States Attorney Peter F. Neronha.

According to an affidavit in support of a criminal complaint filed with the court, Sena was arrested on Monday after DEA agents and local and state law enforcement officers assigned to the Rhode Island DEA Drug Task Force seized 93 grams of fentanyl found stashed in a bag of rice in Sena's Cranston residence.

According to the affidavit, during the month of March 2014, the DEA, in collaboration with the Cranston, East Providence, Providence and Woonsocket Police Departments, conducted an investigation into the alleged distribution of heroin and fentanyl in the City of Cranston.  Information developed by DEA agents and drug task force members indicated that Sena was allegedly distributing heroin and/or fentanyl. DEA agents and members of the drug task force executed a court authorized search of Sena's residence on Monday and seized 5 plastic bags containing a total of 93 grams of fentanyl found stashed inside a container of rice in the kitchen.

A criminal complaint is merely an allegation and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government's burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

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

Possession of fentanyl with the intent to distribute is punishable by a statutory penalty of up 20 years in federal prison followed by between three years and lifetime supervised release, and a fine of up to $1,000,000.

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