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June 1, 2007

Pawtucket residents sentenced for cocaine trafficking

Two residents of the Prospect Heights housing development in Pawtucket were sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 10 and 12.5 years in prison for trafficking in crack cocaine in Prospect Heights.

U.S. District Court Judge William E. Smith sentenced John L. Kimbrough, 39, to 12 ½ years, and Chief U.S. District Court Judge Mary M. Lisi sentenced Fernando J. Torres, 23, to 10 years, according to the Providence office of U.S. Attorney Robert Clark Corrente.

The sentences imposed today bring to four the number of people sentenced for at least 10 years following a joint investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Pawtucket Police into drug trafficking in the housing development, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. 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.

-- projo.com staff writer Kate Bramson

Kimbrough pleaded guilty in March to charges of distributing crack cocaine and of being a felon in possession of a firearm. At a plea hearing, Assistant U.S. Attorney Lee H. Vilker said the government could prove Kimbrough sold 49 grams of crack for $2,000 in April 2006 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, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

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 Torres sold 54 grams of crack for $1,600 in Prospect Heights last August, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Posted by Kate Bramson at 2:58 PM | Permalink

June 1, 2007

Pawtucket residents sentenced for cocaine trafficking

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