Official State of Rhode Island website

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State of Rhode Island, Attorney General Peter F. Neronha ,

Press Releases

Providence man sentenced to 13 years in state prison for fentanyl and cocaine trafficking, insurance fraud

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Attorney General Peter F. Neronha announced today that a Providence man has been sentenced in Providence County Superior Court to serve 13 years at the Adult Correctional Institutions (ACI) after pleading to drug trafficking and insurance fraud charges stemming from a 2019 Rhode Island State Police (RISP) wiretap investigation, known as “Operation Heat.” ...

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Interim Report of the Statewide Grand Jury (Reported March 1, 2023)

An indictment, information, or complaint is merely an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. Michael Wheelock (age 26) Warwick, RI K1-2023-0145A On March 1, 2023, the Statewide Grandy Jury returned an indictment charging Michael Wheelock with one count of first-degree child molestation and one count of second-degree child molestation. The alleged acts occurred in the city of Warwick sometime between July 1, 2015 and October 31, 2015. The Rhode Island State Police and Cranston Police Department conducted the investigation. The defendant is scheduled to be arraigned on March 24, 2023, in Kent County Superior Court. ...

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Cranston drug dealer who possessed illegal gun and large-capacity magazine sentenced to 15 years in state prison

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Attorney General Peter F. Neronha announced today that a Cranston man has been sentenced in Providence County Superior Court to serve 15 years at the Adult Correctional Institutions (ACI) after pleading to various drug and weapons charges stemming from a 2022 investigation by the Rhode Island State Police (RISP) High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force and the Cranston Police Department. ...

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Four charged in scheme to smuggle cellphone into ACI

An indictment, information, or complaint is merely an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Attorney General Peter F. Neronha and Colonel Darnell S. Weaver announced today that four individuals have been charged in Providence County Superior Court for their roles in a scheme to smuggle a cell phone into the Adult Correctional Institutions (ACI). ...

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Interim Report of the Statewide Grand Jury (Reported February 24, 2023)

An indictment, information, or complaint is merely an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. Alex Rolin (age 26) Charlestown, RI W1-2023-0095A On February 24, 2023, the Statewide Grandy Jury returned an indictment charging Alex Rolin with one count of murder and one count of possession of a knife while committing a crime of violence. The alleged acts occurred in the town of Charlestown on or about September 19, 2022. The Rhode Island State Police conducted the investigation. The defendant is scheduled to be arraigned on March 7, 2023, in Washington County Superior Court. ...

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Attorney General Neronha calls for responsible gas utility planning in Rhode Island

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Attorney General Peter F. Neronha announced today that the Office has asked the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to deny approval of a proposed plan submitted by Rhode Island Energy (RIE), where the company seeks a 3% increase over the next twelve months in the average annual gas bill (and proposed a plan that would see a 6.6% increase over the next 21 months). The Attorney General argues that RIE’s plan, which includes proposals to fund expansion of gas utility infrastructure in Rhode Island, fails to adequately account for Act on Climate mandates to reduce and eliminate greenhouse gas emissions. ...

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