Providence Man Seeking to Buy $1 Million Worth of Cocaine Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison

PROVIDENCE, RI—A Providence man who admitted to setting up a deal to purchase a million dollars worth of cocaine from an FBI undercover agent in August 2008 was sentenced Wednesday in federal court in Providence to 121 months in federal prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, announced United States Attorney Peter F. Neronha.

Jose J. Astacio, 49, pleaded guilty in August 2010 before U.S. District Court Chief Judge Mary M. Lisi to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute and attempt to possess with the intent to distribute more than five kilos of cocaine.

At the defendant's change of plea hearing, the government presented information to the court that Astacio met several times with an undercover FBI agent and two cooperating witnesses, indicating that he had $1,000,000 available for the purchase of large quantities of cocaine. He indicated that if the purchase went well he had additional sums of money for subsequent purchases. The parties agreed that the initial sale of cocaine to the defendant would be 50 kilograms.

On August 17, 2008, Astacio arranged to meet a cooperating witness and an undercover FBI agent in Warwick to deliver half of the cash for the transaction. Astacio claimed a second associate had the other half of the money, but that he would take delivery of the drugs and then return with the rest of the money.

Astacio followed a cooperating witness and an undercover law enforcement officer to a second location where agents had placed over 50 kilos of cocaine. After the defendant had completed the inspection of the cocaine and wiped his fingerprints from the packages, he activated a hidden compartment in the rear his vehicle and began loading the cocaine into the compartment. As Astacio was loading the drugs into the compartment he was arrested, and agents seized $499,470 in cash that had been provided for the drugs.

The matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Rhode Island State Police; the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) Task Force, including ATF, ICE, Providence Police, Pawtucket Police, Warwick Police, Central Falls Police, Narragansett Police; and the Boston Police Department.

Indianapolis man pleads guilty to human trafficking

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Nathan G. Pope, 48, of Indianapolis, Ind., pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Providence Monday to conspiracy and transporting an individual across state lines to engage in prostitution, in violation of the Mann Act. Pope and a codefendant, Jan M. Wales, 45, of Indianapolis, were charged with trafficking two women they recruited on the Internet to a Rhode Island hotel to engage in prostitution. Wales pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Providence in August. The investigation was conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

The guilty pleas, which were accepted by U.S. District Court Judge William E. Smith, were announced by U.S. Attorney for the District of Rhode Island Peter F. Neronha; Bruce M. Foucart, special agent in charge of ICE HSI in Boston; and Warwick Police Chief Colonel Stephen McCartney.

"Many people are unaware that this form of modern day slavery still occurs in the United States," said Special Agent Foucart. Foucart oversees ICE HSI throughout New England. "While we can't erase the suffering these two women experienced, by aggressively investigating and prosecuting these cases, ICE HSI and our law enforcement partners are sending a powerful warning about the consequences facing those responsible for such heinous acts."

At Pope's change of plea hearing, Assistant U.S. Attorney Terrence P. Donnelly told the court that in December 2009, Pope drove the women from Indianapolis to a hotel in Warwick, R.I., and checked in with the intent to solicit customers in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. The next day, Pope left one of the women at the hotel after assaulting her, prompting her to contact Warwick Police. That evening, Pope was located at a hotel in Windsor Locks, Conn., near Bradley Airport, and arrested by ICE HSI special agents on a federal arrest warrant.

Wales, who remained in Indianapolis, scheduled appointments for the women and relayed the information to Pope in Rhode Island via text messages. She was arrested in Arizona in February.

U.S. Attorney Peter F. Neronha commented, "As unbelievable as it may seem, in the shadows of modern society, there are still those who traffic in the lives of others for profit. This office, together with our federal, state and local partners, stands committed to protecting and seeking justice for the victims of these human trafficking crimes, typically women and children."

Pope is scheduled to be sentenced on April 29, 2011.

Earlier this month, President Obama announced that January is National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. "Human trafficking is a global travesty that takes many forms. Whether forced labor or sexual trafficking, child soldiering or involuntary domestic servitude, these abuses are an affront to our national conscience, and to our values as Americans and human beings," said President Obama. "There is no one type of victim -- men and women, adults and children are all vulnerable. From every corner of our Nation to every part of the globe, we must stand firm in defense of freedom and bear witness for those exploited by modern slavery."

ICE is attacking these types of crimes on several fronts. The agency encourages the public to recognize and report human trafficking crimes through its Hidden in Plain Sight public outreach campaign. The campaign included widespread distribution of posters, billboards and transit shelter signs. ICE is taking a global strategy, working with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and international partners hosting meetings, coordinating efforts and sharing information to dismantle human trafficking organizations that bring such desperation to the people they ensnare.

ICE's Victims Assistance Program helps to coordinate services in support of human trafficking victims. In April 2009, ICE was recognized for its commitment to assisting victims of crime with a Federal Service Award from the U.S. Department of Justice National Crime Victims' Service Awards program.

Last summer, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) launched the Blue Campaign. The Blue Campaign, named for "the thin blue line" of law enforcement, is an outreach effort to bring public awareness to the crime of human trafficking through education and reporting guidelines.

Russian couple charged with identity theft, bank and passport fraud

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - A Russian national purporting to be an American citizen and his wife, a naturalized American citizen, whose true identities are not known to authorities, were arrested by federal agents and charged Wednesday with identity theft, bank and passport fraud, and false statement of citizenship, according to U.S. Attorney Peter F. Neronha.

The couple was arrested at their Warwick, R.I., home following an investigation that began after an individual living in Ireland filed a complaint with Warwick Police alleging that he discovered through the Internet that his identity and personal information may have been stolen by a man living in Warwick. The investigation is being conducted by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), along with the U.S. State Department and Warwick Police Department.

The couple, who identify themselves as Fionghal MacEoghan and Oleysa MacEoghan, made initial appearances Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Providence before U.S. Magistrate Judge David L. Martin each charged with one count each of passport fraud; false statement of citizenship; identity theft; and bank fraud.

According to Affidavits on file in the U.S. District Court, an individual with dual citizenships in Ireland and the United States contacted Warwick Police in July alleging that his identity and personal information were being used by a Russian couple living in Warwick, R.I. Fionghal Solomon MacEoghan told police that he discovered the couple through the Internet. He told police that based on his Internet searches, viewing numerous Internet links, and after having several contacts through Facebook and email with a woman identifying herself as Oleysa MacEoghan, he believed that his identity and personal information had been stolen and were being used by an individual in Warwick.

According to the Affidavits, an investigation by federal agents from ICE HSI and the U.S. State Department, assisted by Warwick Police, identified the couple and determined that they allegedly filed for and fraudulently obtained U.S. passports, Rhode Island driver's licenses, and purchased a home in Warwick and obtained a mortgage using Mr. MacEoghan's identity and personal information.

A complaint is merely an allegation and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government's burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

The matter is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie S. Browne.