Warwick Man Sentenced for Trafficking Fentanyl-Laced Pills
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – A Warwick man has been sentenced in federal court in Rhode Island for selling fentanyl-laced pills disguised as Percocet, announced United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda
Preston Quintanilha, 23, was sentenced on January 20, 2026, by U.S. District Court Judge Mary S. McElroy to 36 months of incarceration to be followed by four years of supervised release. Quintanilha pleaded guilty on June 25, 2025, to charges of possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and attempt to possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. Quintanilha has been detained in federal custody since his arrest on May 28, 2024.
According to court documents, in August 2023, during a joint federal and local law enforcement investigation into the defendant’s drug trafficking activities, the DEA made two controlled purchases of fentanyl-laced pills from Quintanilha.
On September 28, 2023, law enforcement executed multiple court-authorized search warrants and seized 999 fentanyl-laced pills (107.5 grams), a bag of suspected crack cocaine, and $5,830 in cash from his residence; 1,003 fentanyl-laced pills (109.9 grams) from a Pawtucket apartment which Quintanilha used to store narcotic drugs; and $4,232 in cash from his person, proceeds Quintanilha admitted were from his drug trafficking activities.
Additionally, on April 16, 2024, United States Postal Service employees intercepted a package addressed to Quintanilha to be delivered to a relative’s residence. A certified K-9 dog positively alerted for the presence of a narcotic odor. A court-authorized search of the package revealed 9,998 fentanyl-laced pills (1,085.8 grams). Quintanilha admitted that he had the package shipped to a relative’s house under the guise of it being a gift for his girlfriend.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Julie M. White.
The matter was investigated by the DEA, Warwick, Pawtucket, and Newport Police Departments, and the United States Postal Inspection Service.
