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December 13, 2006

5 URI students released on bail after drug arrests

Eight of the nine University of Rhode Island students arrested last week after an undercover investigation into drug dealing on the Kingston campus have been released from prison. Just in time for finals week.

The arrests followed early-morning raids at two dormitories. The students have been accused of selling or plotting to sell drugs to two female officers working undercover at the school this fall. The drugs included marijuana, psychedelic mushrooms and crack cocaine, police said.

Derek Delahunt, a freshman from North Kingstown, appeared today before Judge John M. McLoughlin in District Court. Delahunt, 18, of Tamarack Circle, was arrested Dec. 6, the day after the raids, and charged with selling and conspiring to sell hallucinogenic mushrooms.

Special Assistant Attorney Gen. Erik B. Wallin asked – as with all the adult URI cases – that he continue to be held without bail at the Adult Correctional Institutions.

“They want you kept in the ACI and I can understand why,” McLoughlin said. “It’s because they want to send a message to every student, ‘You do drugs, you go to jail.’ ”

-- Journal staff writer Katie Mulvaney

Wearing a baggy Carhartt jacket, khakis and sneakers, his blond hair edging toward toward his shoulders, Delahunt quietly agreed to a series of restrictions and was released on $25,000 surety bail. The conditions include random urine tests, waiving his Fourth Amendment protection against search and seizures, and a curfew from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. He was placed under pretrial supervision and is due to return to court Jan. 17.

Four other students were released under similar terms after appearing Tuesday before McLoughlin. They are:

-- Ryan P. Wilkin, 18, of Old Bethpage, N.Y., charged with three counts of selling marijuana; two counts of conspiring to sell marijuana; and possession of a controlled substance, Ketamine, an animal tranquilizer taken for its hallucinogenic effects.

-- Joshua D. Giorgi, 18, of 14 Vinton St., Providence, faces two counts of selling marijuana and one count of possessing marijuana. He faces additional charges in Family Court for other crimes allegedly committed before he turned 18, the police said.

-- Owen Hnat-Dembitz, 18, of Colts Neck, N.J., was charged with conspiracy.

-- George R. Andrea, 18, of Washington Township, N.J., is accused of two counts of selling of marijuana and conspiracy to sell marijuana.

They, too, are set to appear in court Jan. 17.

-- Benjamin Meskell, 18, of Manhasset, N.Y., was released under the same terms Friday. The police charged Meskell with selling marijuana. His next court date is Jan. 26.

All waived their right to a bail hearing.

A ninth student, Sadiq A. Kafo, 19, continues to be held without bail at the Adult Correctional Institutions. Kafo, of 44 Randall St., Pawtucket, faces five counts of selling crack cocaine and possessing crack cocaine with the intent to deliver.

The police charged two female freshmen as well. Those cases are being handled in Family Court because they were 17 at the time of the alleged crimes. The police declined to identify the women because of their age.

Posted by Steve Peoples  at 6:21 PM | Permalink

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