Pawtucket Man Pleads Guilty To Manufacture And Distribution Of Meth; Faces Up To 100 Years In Federal Prison
NEW HAVEN, Conn. - Michael J. Ferguson, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA’s New England Field Division, United States Attorney Peter F. Neronha, Warwick Police Chief Colonel Stephen M. McCartney and Newport Police Chief Gary T. Silva announced that Sean Costigan, 51, of Pawtucket, pleaded guilty in federal court in Providence to charges of manufacturing and distributing methamphetamine. Costigan was arrested in January 2014 when DEA agents, DEA Drug Task Force agents, and Warwick and Newport Police detectives and officers executed a court authorized search of a Newport motel room rented by Costigan where they discovered materials being used for the manufacture and distribution of methamphetamine.
Appearing before U.S. District Court Judge John J. McConnell, Jr., Costigan admitted to the court that on four occasions, between October 25 and December 6, 2013, he sold methamphetamine to a Warwick undercover police officer for between $100 and $400 dollars. Three of the transactions occurred at a hotel in Warwick. The fourth transaction occurred at a hotel in North Smithfield.
According to information presented to the court, on January 16, 2014, DEA agents, DEA Drug Task Force agents and Warwick and Newport Police detectives and officers executed a court authorized search of a Newport motel room rented by Costigan. Inside the room law enforcement discovered materials being used in the manufacture and distribution of meth. Members of the DEA Clandestine Laboratory Tactical Team dismantled the operation and seized multiple items associated with a methamphetamine manufacturing operation.
According to a plea agreement filed in this matter, Costigan and federal prosecutors stipulate and agree that Costigan maintained the room at the Newport motel for the purposes of manufacturing methamphetamine and that the meth lab created a substantial risk of harm to human life.
Costigan, who has been detained since his arrest on January 16, 2014, faces statutory penalties of up to 100 years in federal prison to be followed by up to lifetime supervised release, and a fine of up to $5,000,000 when he is sentenced on November 12, 2014.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Pamela E. Chin.
