Providence man charged with drug trafficking, possessing ghost guns, large capacity magazines, and other firearms

Published on Friday, October 20, 2023

An indictment, information, or complaint is merely an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Attorney General Peter F. Neronha announced that a Providence man has been charged in Providence County Superior Court with gun and drug-related offenses following an investigation led by the Providence Police Department, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the West Warwick Police Department, and the Attorney General’s Urban Violent Crime Task Force.

On September 18, 2023, the Statewide Grand Jury indicted Philip Debartolo (age 39) with one count of possession of over five kilograms of marijuana, one count of possession with intent to deliver marijuana, one count of possession of firearms while in possession with intent to deliver marijuana, one count of possession of firearms by a person convicted of a crime of violence, one count of possession of ghost guns, one count of possession of firearms with obliterated serial numbers, and one count of possession of large-capacity magazines.

The defendant is scheduled to be arraigned in Providence County Superior Court on Monday, October 23, 2023.

As alleged in the criminal information, between January and March 2023, Providence Police detectives, special agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the West Warwick Police Department, and the Urban Violent Crime Task Force launched an investigation into the defendant for suspicion of distributing marijuana while in the possession of firearms. Investigators suspected the defendant was selling from his residence on Douglas Avenue in Providence and another residence in West Warwick.

“Our Urban Violent Crime Initiative continues to deliver results for Rhode Islanders and their safety. As alleged in the indictment, this case features an astonishing number of criminal elements our Office and our partners work to eradicate including drugs, ghost guns, stolen guns, large-capacity magazines, and more – all held by a prohibited user and habitual offender. As alleged, the defendant was operating an illegal drug dealing operation and was armed to the teeth to protect it. As alleged, the defendant has the makings of a clear threat to our peace and safety,” said Attorney General Neronha. “I am grateful for the teamwork in this case – we are more effective when working together in this task force environment. I am particularly grateful to the Providence Police investigators working in tandem with West Warwick Police for tracking the down the leads that led to the charges, and for the detectives from all of the other involved departments for their continued outstanding work in this and many other cases.”

As alleged, on March 16, 2023, officers executed search warrants and apprehended the defendant outside his Douglas Avenue residence and searched both properties. Overall, investigators seized several ghost guns, 25 large capacity magazines, approximately 19.73 kg of marijuana, several guns with obliterated serial numbers, a stolen gun, and drug paraphernalia, among other items.

The items seized included:

“The men and women of the Providence Police Department remain committed in their continued efforts to prevent violent crime, particularly those involving a firearm, within our community,” said Providence Police Colonel Oscar L. Perez, Jr. “Through the partnership between the Providence Police Department and the Office of the Attorney General’s Urban Violent Crime Task Force, police were able to swiftly execute this complex investigation, and I praise the efforts of all those involved.”

“The crimes alleged in this case present a clear threat to the people of our community, and I am thankful to the West Warwick Police Department, alongside partners in Providence, the ATF, and the Attorney General’s Office for their efforts on this case,” said West Warwick Police Chief Ernest Lavigne. “Through collaborative police work, alongside the Attorney General’s Urban Violent Crime Task Force, we can make a serious impact on preventing violent crime in our state.”

“ATF is committed to investigating and holding accountable those who possess illegal firearms and commit violent crimes in Rhode Island,” said James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF Boston Field Division. “Illegal firearms – along with the violence that is never far behind – pose a serious threat to our neighborhoods and will not be allowed. ATF and our local, state and federal partners are dedicated to bringing justice to those that commit these crimes, and we stand shoulder to shoulder with local law enforcement in this effort.”

Urban Violent Crime Initiative

The case was investigated under the Urban Violent Crime Task Force, an initiative that began in 2021, by the Office of the Attorney General; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Providence, Pawtucket, and Central Falls Police Departments; and the Department of Corrections to proactively target violent crime and firearms trafficking in the greater Providence Area.

The Attorney General has deputized officers from law enforcement agencies in Providence, Pawtucket, and Central Falls to provide greater ability to investigate suspects across municipal jurisdictions. As part of this initiative, prosecutors, investigators, and analysts work together to gather data and intelligence, analyze the information to support investigations and prosecutions, and guide violent crime enforcement priorities. The partner agencies have prioritized information sharing and analysis across agencies through the use of a data analyst and platform – funded through a Department of Justice grant awarded to the Office of the Attorney General in 2020.

Recently, the Office of the Attorney General purchased a National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) machine, only one of two in the entire state, using asset forfeiture funds, that will allow for the capture and comparison of ballistic evidence to aid in solving and preventing violent crimes involving firearms.

Using these tools, the team can quickly draw connections between different crime scenes and weave together police reports and other records to help identify suspects and witnesses.

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