United States Drug Enforcement Administration

(PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Miguel Colon, 55, of Woonsocket, was sentenced today to 15 years in federal prison for trafficking heroin and cocaine, and for carrying a firearm in furtherance of his drug trafficking activities. At the time of his arrest in April 2015, law enforcement seized three kilograms of cocaine and a loaded firearm found stashed inside a hidden compartment inside Colon’s vehicle and nearly 900 grams of heroin hidden inside a self-storage unit rented by Colon.

At sentencing, U.S. District Court Chief Judge William E. Smith also ordered Colon to serve five years supervised release upon completion of his prison term. Colon pleaded guilty on October 28, 2015, to possession with the intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin, possession with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, being a felon in possession of a firearm and carrying a firearm during a drug trafficking crime.

Colon’s sentence is announced by Michael J. Ferguson Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England; United States Attorney Peter F. Neronha; Woonsocket Acting Police Chief Captain Michael R. Lemoine; Providence Police Chief Colonel Hugh T. Clements, Jr. and Colonel Steven G. O’Donnell, Superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police.

According to court documents and information presented to the court, Woonsocket and Providence police detectives, independent of one another, developed information that approximately once a month Miguel Colon traveled by vehicle to Texas and/or Florida to obtain large quantities of cocaine and/or heroin which he transported back to Rhode Island. In late April 2015, law enforcement developed information that Colon was on a drug run to Texas and Florida, and that he was scheduled to arrive in Rhode Island with the drugs on April 27.

In the early morning hours of April 27, local, state and federal law enforcement, posted along Route 95 in unmarked vehicles, spotted Colon’s vehicle and followed it until it came to a stop in the parking lot of a motel in North Attleboro, Mass. Law enforcement quickly surrounded the vehicle and removed Colon. A Rhode Island State Police K-9 indicated the presence of narcotics inside the vehicle. With the assistance of North Attleboro and Massachusetts State Police, a court authorized search of the vehicle resulted in the discovery of three kilos of cocaine, approximately one pound of marijuana and a loaded semi-automatic firearm stashed inside a sophisticated hydraulically-controlled hidden compartment. Also located in the vehicle were keys to self-storage units at a Woonsocket storage facility.  A Rhode Island court authorized search of two storage units rented by Colon at the Woonsocket storage facility resulted in the seizure of approximately 900 grams of heroin, and various items used in the packaging and distribution of drugs.

A court authorized search of Colon’s residence resulted in the seizure of drug ledgers which contained entries of amounts of money listed next to names, some of which were the names of individuals known to Woonsocket Police as drug dealers in the City of Woonsocket. Law enforcement also seized live ammunition, several small seedling sized marijuana plants and a State of Rhode Island marijuana caregiver card issued to Colon.  Colon has been detained in federal custody since his arrest.