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

Press Releases

Attorney General Neronha announces additional million-dollar settlement with major oil and gas companies over MTBE contamination

Rhode Island’s combined recoveries from settlements as part of state’s ongoing MTBE litigation now total nearly $20 million PROVIDENCE, RI – Attorney General Peter F. Neronha announced today that his office has resolved Rhode Island’s lawsuit against two of the nation’s largest refiners of gasoline. The State’s case, filed in September 2016, alleged that Coastal Corporation (Coastal) and British Petroleum (BP) – along with several other refiners – caused pollution of Rhode Island’s soil and groundwater with the gasoline additive methyl tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE). ...

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Providence man sentenced to serve 5 years in state prison for narcotics trafficking and illegally possessing firearms

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Attorney General Peter F. Neronha announced today that a Providence man has been sentenced in Providence County Superior Court to serve five years at the Adult Correctional Institutions (ACI) after pleading to narcotics trafficking and illegally possessing three firearms following a joint investigation by the Providence Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), and the Office of the Attorney General, with assistance from the Massachusetts State Police (MSP). ...

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Interim Report of the Statewide Grand Jury (Reported November 21, 2022)

An indictment, information, or complaint is merely an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. Nelson DeJesus (age 55) West Warwick, RI K1-2022-0704A On November 21, 2022, the Statewide Grand jury returned an indictment charging Nelson DeJesus with one count of first-degree robbery and one count of assault on a person with severe impairments. The alleged acts occurred in the town of West Warwick sometime on August 5, 2022. The West Warwick Police Department conducted the investigation. The defendant is held without bail at the Adult Correctional Institutions and scheduled to be arraigned on December 9, 2022, in the Kent County Superior Court. ...

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Interim Report of the Washington County Grand Jury (Reported November 18, 2022)

An indictment, information, or complaint is merely an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. John Celico (age 29) South Kingstown, RI W1-2022-0406A On November 21, 2022, the Washington County Grand jury returned an indictment charging John Celico with two counts of first-degree sexual assault. The alleged acts occurred in the town of South Kingstown sometime on August 2, 2022. The South Kingstown Police Department conducted the investigation. The defendant is held without bail at the Adult Correctional Institutions and scheduled to be arraigned on December 12, 2022, in Washington County Superior Court. ...

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Statement from Attorney General Peter F. Neronha On The Proposed Sale of Roger Williams and Fatima Hospitals

Under Rhode Island law, significant healthcare transactions require this Office’s approval before they may proceed. Specifically, under the state’s Hospital Conversions Act, transfers of 20% or more of ownership, assets, membership interest, authority or control of a hospital require approval by the Attorney General. The proposed sale of Roger Williams and Fatima Hospitals announced today will thus require my Office’s approval before it may proceed. ...

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Pawtucket man sentenced to 15 years in state prison for violent home invasion

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Attorney General Peter F. Neronha announced today that a Pawtucket man was sentenced in Providence County Superior Court to serve 15 years at the Adult Correctional Institutions (ACI) after pleading to participating in a violent home invasion in Johnston in 2021 where a 30-year-old male occupant was shot and stabbed several times. Deven Guernon (age 25) entered a plea of nolo contendere to one count of assault with a dangerous weapon with intent to rob, one count of first-degree robbery, and two counts of conspiracy. At a hearing on November 4, 2022, before Superior Court Justice Robert D. Krause, the ...

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Interim Report of the Providence County Grand Jury (Reported November 18, 2022)

An indictment, information, or complaint is merely an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. Nelson Nunez (age 31) Providence, RI P1-2022-4070AG On November 18, 2022, the Providence Grand Jury returned an indictment charging Nelson Nunez with one count of possession of over one kilogram of fentanyl, one count of possession with intent to deliver fentanyl, and two counts of conspiracy to violate Rhode Island’s Uniform Controlled Substances Act. The alleged acts occurred in the city of Providence sometime on May 24, 2022. The Rhode Island State Police conducted the investigation. The defendant is scheduled to be arraigned on November 23, 2022, in Providence County Superior Court. ...

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Providence man sentenced to serve 15 years in state prison for leading a gang-related narcotics trafficking operation and several connected shootings

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Attorney General Peter F. Neronha announced that a Providence man was sentenced in Providence Count Superior Court to serve 15 years at the Adult Correctional Institutions (ACI) after pleading to 22 felony counts stemming from his lead role in a gang-related narcotics trafficking operation and several connected shootings in Providence in 2019. ...

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