Operation Triple Play dismantled a drug trafficking
organization that imported significant quantities of heroin and cocaine from
Mexico and distributed the drugs in 3 states
PROVIDENCE, RI – The fifteenth and final defendant arrested,
charged and convicted for leading or participating in a drug trafficking
conspiracy that repeatedly arranged for and supervised multi-kilogram shipments
of heroin and cocaine from Mexico to stash houses in Cranston and Woonsocket,
R.I., then distributed the drugs to mid-level drug dealers in the greater
Providence and greater Boston areas and in Hartford, Conn., was sentenced today
in federal court in Providence.
An FBI Safe Streets Gang Task Force investigation dubbed
“Operation Triple Play,” in reference to three brothers, Juan, Claudio, and
Hector Valdez, all Dominican nationals who admitted to running the drug
trafficking organization, dismantled the operation that imported substantial
quantities of heroin and cocaine from Mexico into Rhode Island.
Juan Valdez, 51, of Milton, Mass., and Claudio Valdez, 46,
of Woonsocket, R.I., are currently serving sentences of 20 years in federal
prison. Hector Valdez, 45, of Woonsocket, R.I., is serving a sentence of 108
months in federal prison.
In addition to executing fourteen court-authorized searches
in three states and arresting fifteen individuals, law enforcement seized
nearly 3.5 kilograms of fentanyl, nearly four kilograms of heroin - most of
which was laced with fentanyl, more than 1.6 kilograms of cocaine, 142 grams of
crack cocaine, more than 137 pounds of cutting agents, $45,500 in cash, and
nine vehicles, five of which were found to contain hidden compartments used for
the transportation of drugs and money.
Eleven of the “Operation Triple Play” defendants, many who
had been living in the United States with stolen identities, including the
three brothers who led the drug trafficking organization, have or will face
deportation proceedings. According to court records, Juan Valdez was previously
deported from the United States on four occasions. Claudio and Hector were
previously deported one occasion.
The conclusion of these cases brought in U.S. District Court
in Providence as the result of Operation Triple Play is announced by United
States Attorney Aaron L. Weisman and FBI Special Agent in Charge Joseph R.
Bonavolonta.
“This investigation by a team of hard working, relentless
members of law enforcement under the direction of the Rhode Island FBI Safe
Streets Gang Task Force drove a spike through the heart of a significant drug
trafficking organization and put them out of business. An equally committed
team of prosecutors ensured that each and every defendant arrested and charged
was held accountable for their actions,” said United States Attorney Aaron L.
Weisman. “This office and law enforcement remain committed to working together
to provide the personnel and the resources necessary to disrupt and dismantle
criminal drug trafficking organizations that destroy so many lives.”
Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI
Boston Division added, “It’s a good day when 15 drug traffickers are taken off
the streets, and their drug trafficking organization is dismantled. This case
shows how drug cartels based in foreign countries will go anywhere to
distribute their deadly products, threatening the safety and stability of our
neighborhoods. The FBI’s Safe Streets Gang Task Force will continue to work
with our law enforcement partners to aggressively track down others like them
who are recklessly poisoning our communities with illegal drugs, bringing nothing but
danger—and in far too many cases death—to our cities.”
Operation Triple Play was an Organized Crime Drug
Enforcement Task Force investigation initiated by the FBI Safe Streets Task
Force. Under the direction of the FBI, the participating agencies in this
investigation included the Drug Enforcement Administration (Providence and
Boston Resident Agencies); Immigration and Customs Enforcement; Rhode Island
State Police; Providence Police Department; Woonsocket Police Department;
Central Falls Police Department; Cranston Police Department; Warwick Police
Department; and the Rhode Island Department of Corrections.
United States Attorney Aaron L. Weisman and FBI Special
Agent in Charge Joseph R. Bonavolonta thank the U.S. Department of State and
United States Attorney’s Offices in the District of Massachusetts and the
District of Connecticut for their assistance in the investigation of this
matter. They also acknowledge and thank the DEA for their financial and
technical support during Operation Triple Play.
The cases were prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Gerard
B. Sullivan, with the assistance of Assistant U.S. Attorneys William J. Ferland
and Ronald A. Gendron.
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