Hell's Angels Member Sentenced on Meth and Cocaine Trafficking, Firearms Charge

PROVIDENCE, RI – A “full patch” member of the Rhode Island chapter of the Hell’s Angels Motorcycle Club, arrested during a Project Safe Neighborhoods drug trafficking investigation by members of the FBI Safe Streets Task Force, was sentenced today to 84 months in federal prison for trafficking methamphetamine and cocaine and being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced United States Attorney Aaron L. Weisman and Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division.

Douglas Leedham, 54, of North Providence, was arrested on February 8, 2019, by members of the Safe Streets Task Force after a court-authorized search of his residence resulted in the seizure of approximately 39 grams of methamphetamine, 21 grams of cocaine, two handguns, a 12 gauge shotgun, two body armor vests, 35 knives, four hatchets, five expandable batons, a set of brass knuckles, $6,422 in cash, and assorted items used in the packaging and distribution of drugs.

Leedham, who pleaded guilty on May 14, 2019, to possession with the intent to distribute 5 grams or more of methamphetamine, possession with the intent to distribute cocaine, and being a felon in possession of a firearm, was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Judge John J. McConnell, Jr., to 84 months in federal prison to be followed by 4 years supervised release.

Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul F. Daly, Jr.

The FBI’s Safe Streets Violent Gang Task Force consists of agents and law enforcement officers from the FBI, RI State Police, Providence, Cranston, Woonsocket, Pawtucket, and Central Falls Police Departments, R.I. Department of Corrections, and the Rhode Island National Guard.