Case Result

Methamphetamine Distribution Charges

April 5, 2023 | John L. Calcagni, III

Criminal Charges:

A Woonsocket man was arrested, and charged in the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island for:

Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841 (a)(1) and (b)(1)(A)

Case Overview:

Agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration received information about a Woonsocket man who was trafficking counterfeit Adderall pills that were pressed and manufactured using methamphetamine. DEA used a confidential source, or informant, to make several controlled drug buys from the man. The drug quantity from the controlled buys exceeded 10,000 units or more than 8 pounds of pills. Using these buys to establish probable cause, agents obtained warrants for the man’s arrest and search of his home. Upon executing the warrants, authorities seized 665,728 counterfeit Adderall pills that contained approximately 240,281 grams of methamphetamine, thousands of Fentanyl pills, quantities of crack cocaine, marijuana and mushrooms, multiple pill presses, 7 illegal firearms, and 5 illegal suppressors. Based on these discoveries, the man was arrested and charged in U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island. He was also on Rhode Island parole at the time of his federal arrest.

Case Result: 120 months of incarceration.

The man retained Federal Criminal Defense Lawyer, John L. Calcagni III, to defend him in this very serious matter, which the media characterized as the largest drug seizure of its kind with the total methamphetamine weight exceeding 660 pounds. Over time, Attorney Calcagni successfully negotiated a plea agreement that enabled the man to avoid parole and probation violations in state court, and receive a flat, 10-year, mandatory minimum jail sentence in federal court. If the man proceeded to trial, he faced a potential life sentence, both under the drug law who was accused of violating, and the applicable United States Sentencing Guidelines range applicable in his case. This disposition ultimately saved the man’s life.