PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Several commercial fishermen in New England have been sentenced in a fraud scheme that centered on a critically important species of bait fish and that prosecutors described as complex and wide-ranging. The fishermen were sentenced for “knowingly subverting commercial fishing reporting requirements” in a scheme involving Atlantic herring, prosecutors said in a […]
Police & Fire
Posted inPolice & Fire
North Smithfield mother charged with International Parental Kidnapping
A North Smithfield mother has been indicted on international parental kidnapping charges, accused of moving her five children across the country without her ex-husband’s knowledge or consent. Jessica Abreu, 33, is accused of moving her children to Alabama and then Tanzania in December 2021, in violation of her existing court order. In May 2022, one […]
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Newport Police provide more info on Jade Way shooting incident
Newport Police today provided the following information on the Jade Way shooting incident earlier this month. On Friday July 5, 2024, at about 12:53 a.m., Newport Police officers responded to the area of Jade Way and Kennedy Road for a report of shots fired. Prior to officers’ arrival, a victim was transported to Newport Hospital […]
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Pawtucket man faces gun charge for lying about restraining order
A Pawtucket man is facing a charge of providing false information to obtain a firearm after investigators say he lied about having a restraining order against him. Attorney General Peter Neronha announced on Wednesday that Richard Osoria, 23, was charged with one count of providing false information while attempting to secure a firearm. Neronha said […]
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Arizona man charged with shipping meth to Rhode Island
An Arizona man is facing federal charges after authorities say he shipped more than four kilograms of meth to Rhode Island and bought gambling tickets with the money. Carl Sharp, 49, was charged with conspiracy to distribute and distribution of methamphetamine. He was arrested by Providence police on July 6. Court documents say the investigation […]
Posted inPolice & Fire
Connecticut man arrested by Portsmouth Police for DUI; had two children in the car
Portsmouth Police Department today announced in a press release that they have charged an individual with DUI with Minors in the Vehicle. In the press release, Portsmouth Police says that Jhonny Cespedes-Gil, 32, of Hartford, Connecticut was arrested by the Portsmouth Police Department Patrol Division and charged with DUI of Liquor/Drugs with a Child Passengers […]
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Six charged in ATM, retail skimming scheme
Four foreign nationals charged with operating a skimming device that captured hundreds of thousands of dollars have appeared before a judge in Rhode Island. The four are part of a six-person crime spree that took place in at least six states, including Rhode Island and Massachusetts, prosecutors say. “The scale, scope, and brazen nature of […]
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Rhode Island man killed in police chase after being accused of killing his wife
HOPKINTON, R.I. (AP) — A man wanted in the killing of his wife died over the weekend after his suburban flipped during a police chase, Rhode Island State Police said in a statement. A warrant was issued Friday for Joseph Francis in the shooting death of his wife, Stephanie Francis, whose body was found with […]
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Providence man sentenced to two life terms for murder
A Providence man has been sentenced to two consecutive life sentences in prison after he was convicted of first-degree murder for shooting and killing a man at Roque’s Café in Providence in 2021. Juan Rivera, 37, was found guilty of murder and carrying a pistol without a license in March. During the trial, prosecutors said […]
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DEM plans to conduct high-visibility boating enforcement patrols during the Fourth of July weekend
With the approaching Fourth of July holiday weekend, boats will soon be dotting Narragansett Bay and other Rhode Island waterways. The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM), in partnership with the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) and the US Coast Guard (USCG), urges boaters to be responsible and not operate their […]
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Providence businesswoman arraigned in Federal Court in alleged $10 million fraud schemes targeting seniors and others
A Warwick woman was arraigned in federal court after allegedly bilking $10 million from her victims through a series of fake lottery and investment schemes. Meagan Shine, 47, is facing four counts of mail fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud. She allegedly duped the elderly and other vulnerable people into sending […]
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Rhode Island Police Chiefs warn against impaired driving this Fourth of July weekend
The Rhode Island Police Chiefs Association is urging people to designate a driver or use ride-hailing services over the Fourth of July weekend, amid concerns about impaired driving. Police departments across the state will be offering extra patrols over the holiday weekend, the association said. “The Fourth of July is a time to celebrate and […]
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Men charged in murder-for-hire plot against prosecutors, witness
The US Attorney’s Office has announced that two men have been indicted in an alleged murder-for-hire plot against two federal prosecutors and a witness. Elijah Melton, 26, from Taunton, and Kareempires, 25, from Wareham, are facing charges of conspiracy to tamper with a witness or informant by killing or attempting to kill, as well as […]
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Middletown Police lauded in community survey
The Middletown Police Department has received high marks from the community for its service, according to a recent survey. The survey was conducted by Salve Regina University’s Criminal Justice and Criminology program. The 314 respondents said the overall performance of the department was excellent, with officers receiving professional, courteous, helpful, and knowledgeable treatment. The survey […]
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Health care center owners charged in $1.9 million fraud scheme
The co-owners of a Warwick-based holistic health care center are accused of defrauding federal and private health care insurance providers of nearly $1.9 million. Brandon Nowak, 32, of Providence, and Jason Simmons, 32, of Foster, were charged in federal court with health care fraud conspiracy, health care fraud, and filing false claims. They are accused […]
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Ex-Wyatt Detention Officer admits smuggling suboxone
A former correctional officer at the Wyatt Detention Center admitted on Monday that he smuggled about 200 Suboxone strips into the facility through a scheme involving a inmate and another person outside the building. Kaii Almeida-Falcones, 30, of Smithfield, pleaded guilty to a charge of providing contraband to an inmate during a federal court hearing […]
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Newport man arrested in Providence on gun possession charges
A Newport man was stopped by police on Deborah Street in Providence on Sunday, June 9 and found to be in possession of a pistol, the Rhode Island State Police said in a release. Soilandro Disla, 32, of Girard Avenue, was arrested on charges of license or permit required to carry pistol, possession of a […]
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Middletown aims for safer roads with speed cameras
The Middletown town council has approved speed cameras in several school zones to reduce speeding and make the roadways safer for children. The cameras will be in effect when school is in session and will only be operational on school days and hours. The speed cameras will also issue civil violations rather than tickets for […]
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West Warwick man facing charges after being found driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs with large capacity magazine
A West Warwick man is facing several charges after police say he was found to be driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs while also carrying a large capacity magazine. Lawrence Cole, 77, is facing one count of possession of a large capacity magazine, one count of carrying a firearm while under the influence, […]
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Florida men used stolen ids for fraudulent bank accounts, benefits
Four men from Florida have been convicted in federal court in Providence, Rhode Island on a scheme that used stolen personal information (PII) to obtain fraudulent debit and credit cards, as well as bank accounts to receive federal and state benefits and payments. The four men are James Legerme, 33, Allen Bien-Aime, 33, Junior Mertile, […]
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Newport man detained on federal charge of child enticement
A Newport man who is alleged to have enticed a minor female to engage in illicit sexual activity and who was allegedly found to be in possession of child pornography has been ordered detained in federal custody, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha. Kyle Patrick Tormey, 39, is charged by way of a federal […]
Posted inCity & Government
Grand jury indicts Newport man with five counts of first-degree child molestation
On April 19, 2024, a Newport County Grand Jury returned an indictment charging Jose Vega, 52, of Newport, Rhode Island, with five counts of first-degree child molestation. According to the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office, the alleged acts occurred in the Town of Portsmouth on diverse dates between May 2, 2012, and May 2, 2017. […]
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Four Guatemalan men are facing federal charges for alleged theft and resale of products from Home Depot and Kohls
Four Guatemalan men are facing federal charges at federal court in Providence for allegedly stealing and reselling thousands of dollars worth of products from Home Depot and Kohls stores across multiple states. 33-year-old Marvin Estuardo Morales De Paz, 24-year-old Abraham Dayger-Enrique, 30-year-old Sebastian Lajuj-Soloman, and 31-year-old Jonathan Josue Amperez-Perez, are facing federal charges for allegedly […]
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Missing 17-year-old found dead near Newport State Airport
The Middletown Police Department announced on Wednesday, March 27, that they have recovered the body of a missing juvenile. At 11:17 am on Wednesday, March 27, Middletown Police Department said in a press release that their department, along with the Newport and Portsmouth Police Departments and U.S. Marshal’s Fugitive Task Force members, located the body […]
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Body pulled from Providence River identified as a 44-year-old Newport man
A body that was pulled out of the Providence River on Kettle Avenue near the East Bay Bike Path on Thursday, March 21, has been identified. The victim, Marcus Harris, was a 44-year-old man from Newport, Rhode Island. Harris’s body was located by a pedestrian around 7:15 pm on Thursday, March 21, according to East […]