News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 1, 2007

Two Men Are Sentenced To Federal Prison for Drug, Gun Trafficking In Prospect Heights

JUN 1 -- Federal judges today sentenced two Prospect Heights residents to prison for trafficking in crack cocaine in the Pawtucket housing project., and one of them for also possessing a gun. U.S. District Court Judge William E. Smith sentenced John L. Kimbrough, 39, to 150 months, and Chief U.S. District Court Judge Mary M. Lisi sentenced Fernando J. Torres, 23, to ten years.

June W. Stansbury, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration in New England and United States Attorney Robert Clark Corrente announced the sentences. Four men have thus far been sentenced to at least ten years in prison as a result of a joint investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Pawtucket Police into drug trafficking in Prospect Heights. Another defendant, Braulio Henriquez, of Central Falls, has pleaded guilty to a crack cocaine conspiracy and is awaiting sentencing. Charges are pending against two other men.

In March, Kimbrough pleaded guilty to two charges: distributing crack cocaine and being a felon in possession of a firearm. At the plea hearing, Assistant U.S. Attorney Lee H. Vilker said that the government could prove that, in April 2006, Kimbrough sold 49 grams of crack for $2,000 at his apartment on Prospect Street. The following month, he sold a .25 caliber handgun for $350. Kimbrough has prior felony convictions for drug trafficking and a firearms violation.

Also in March, Torres pleaded guilty to distributing 50 grams or more of crack cocaine. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zechariah Chafee said the government could prove that Torres sold 54 grams of crack for $1,600 in Prospect Heights last August.

Last month, Judge Smith sentenced Samuel Ross, 27, to ten years in prison for selling 61 grams of crack and a nine millimeter handgun. And he sentenced Jorge L. Henriquez, 23, of Central Falls, to 126 months for selling 80 grams of crack cocaine in Prospect Heights.

Pawtucket Police and the Drug Enforcement Administration Task Force conducted the investigation, with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Detectives from the Newport, Pawtucket, Providence, East Providence, Warwick, Middletown, and Bristol police departments are assigned to the DEA Task Force.