Case Result

Federal Drug Trafficking Sentence in Rhode Island

February 12, 2025 | John L. Calcagni, III

Criminal Charges:

Man charged in United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island for:

Conspiracy to Distribute and to Possess with Intent to Distribute 400 Grams or More of Fentanyl, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841 (a)(1), (b)(1)(A) and 846
Possession with Intent to Distribute 400 Grams or More of Fentanyl, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841 (a)(1) and (b)(1)(A)
Possession with Intent to Distribute 28 Grams or More of Cocaine Base, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841 (a)(1) and (b)(1)(B)

City, State, County and Court:

Providence, Rhode Island
United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island

Case Overview:

Following a long-term investigation into the activities of a known drug trafficker who was on federal probation for a prior federal drug trafficking offense, DEA obtained and executed a search warrant for the man’s apartment. Inside, they discovered approximately 457 grams of fentanyl, and 50 grams of cocaine base, along with drug trafficking paraphernalia such as grinders, bagging materials, digital scales, and a large amount of U.S. Currency. Based on these discoveries, federal law enforcement agents arrested the man and charged him with both new federal drug trafficking charges, as well as violating the conditions of his federal supervised release for a former federal drug trafficking conviction some years earlier. He faced a mandatory minimum prison term of 10 years or 120 months, if convicted of the indicted offenses. The man was unsurprisingly held without bail after appearing in United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island. He immediately retained Federal Criminal Defense Lawyer, John L. Calcagni III, to defend him in this matter.

Case Result: 72 Months, Followed by a Term of Supervised Release

Over time, Attorney Calcagni successfully negotiated a plea agreement on the man’s behalf that resulted in a reduction of his original charges, which effectively reduced his applicable mandatory minimum jail sentence to 5 years or 60 months. After pleading guilty to the reduced charges, the man proceeded to sentencing. His advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines were 78 – 97 months. The government advocated for a sentence at the higher end of the range because this was the man’s second federal criminal case involving drug trafficking. Attorney Calcagni persuaded the Court to impose a sentence of 72 months, followed by a term of supervised release, and no additional punishment for his federal probation violation.