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Rhode Island man who was east coast drug source sentenced after 8,964 fentanyl-laced pills, 892 grams of fentanyl seized

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Rhode Island man who was east coast drug source sentenced after 8,964 fentanyl-laced pills, 892 grams of fentanyl seized


PROVIDENCE, R.I. – A Providence man who worked as an east coast source for trafficking fentanyl on behalf of a Mexican drug supplier was sentenced on Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Rhode Island to five years in federal prison, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.

Watly Federico Valenzuela Ruiz, 39, pleaded guilty on November 1, 2023, to a charge of conspiracy to both distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, fentanyl. He was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Mary S. McElroy to 60 months of incarceration to be followed by three years of federal supervised release.

According to documents filed with the court, in May 2021, months after he entered into discussions to become a supplier of large quantities of fentanyl to an individual in Providence for $38,000 per kilogram, Valenzuela Ruiz delivered approximately one kilogram of fentanyl to that individual. The drugs were seized by members of the DEA Rhode Island Drug Task Force.

In August 2021, Valenzuela Ruiz arranged for the sale of 1,000 fentanyl-laced counterfeit oxycodone pills to an individual for $6.00 per pill. Following that delivery Valenzuela Ruiz offered to sell the individual 10,000 fentanyl-laced counterfeit oxycodone pills for $5.00 per pill. As 9,000 pills were being delivered at the direction of Valenzuela Ruiz on September 7, 2021, Valenzuela Ruiz, his brother-in-law, and another individual were arrested by DEA Drug Task Force agents.

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The investigation into Valenzuela Ruiz’s drug trafficking activities resulted in the seizure of 8,964 fentanyl-laced counterfeit oxycodone pills with a net weight of 1,012.9 grams of fentanyl; 4.475 grams of fentanyl powder; and 892.3 grams of fentanyl with 723.9 grams of tramadol cutting agent,

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stacey A. Erickson.

The Rhode Island DEA Drug Task Force is comprised of personnel from the DEA; Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation; Rhode Island State Police; Cranston Police Department; Middletown Police Department; Newport Police Department; Pawtucket Police Department; Providence Police Department; Warwick Police Department; Woonsocket Police Department; and Amtrak Police.

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Carjacking suspect hits cruisers during chase across 3 RI towns

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Carjacking suspect hits cruisers during chase across 3 RI towns


BURRILLVILLE, R.I. (WPRI) — A man is facing charges in three Rhode Island towns after a carjacking investigation led to a police chase Tuesday morning.

Cranston police said Jacob Zhawred, 32, of Johnston, allegedly assaulted a woman in the Stop & Shop parking lot off Garfield Avenue just before 7 a.m., then stole her car and fled.

Jacob Zhawred, 32 (March 2026 booking photo, courtesy Cranston Police Dept.)

Using the victim’s phone that was left inside the vehicle, officers tracked it heading north. Glocester police later attempted to stop the car in the area of Route 44 at St. Eugene’s Church, but authorities said Zhawred took off, crossing multiple residential lawns to evade officers.

Burrillville officers deployed stop sticks on Camp Dixie Road, flattening the car’s tires, but police said Zhawred continued driving on the rims.

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During the pursuit, police said he struck multiple cruisers from Cranston, Glocester and Burrillville. He appeared to be under the influence of drugs at the time, according to police.

The chase extended onto Eagle Peak Road and Wallum Lake Road, where police said Zhawred again hit cruisers and tried to cut across a lawn before crashing into a telephone pole.

Zhawred was arrested around 9:40 a.m. and taken to Landmark Medical Center for treatment of his “extensive impairment issues,” police said. He’s since been released from the hospital and is now being held without bail at the ACI.

In Burrillville, he is charged with:

  • Assault with a deadly weapon (6 counts)
  • Leaving the scene of an accident resulting in property damage (2 counts)
  • Vandalism (2 counts)
  • Possession of a stolen motor vehicle
  • DUI
  • Eluding/reckless driving
  • Resisting arrest

He also faces an eluding/reckless driving charge out of Glocester.

In Cranston, Zhawred is charged with second-degree robbery and shoplifting for allegedly stealing $100 worth of items from a Lowe’s before the carjacking.

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Police said the woman he allegedly assaulted is OK, and no one was hurt during the chase.

Cranston Police Chief Michael Winquist also told 12 News that Zhawred was “recently released from prison.”

“He has multiple assault charges, shoplifting charges, breaking and entering, a lengthy criminal history, he has drug charges,” Winquist said. “This is somebody that’s dangerous to the community. I’m happy the officers were able to use teamwork to get this person off the streets.”

Download the WPRI 12 and Pinpoint Weather 12 apps to get breaking news and weather alerts.

Watch 12 News Now on WPRI.com or with the free WPRI 12+ TV app.

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Severe Tick-Borne Meat, Dairy Allergy Disease On Rise Across RI: What You Need To Know

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Severe Tick-Borne Meat, Dairy Allergy Disease On Rise Across RI: What You Need To Know


The tick-borne illness that causes those infected to become severely allergic to meat and dairy products is emerging as an increasing concern in Rhode Island.

The Centers for Disease Control said nearly a half-million people are affected by the condition nationwide — with symptoms that can vary in severity with each exposure to meat or dairy.

See also: Cranston Man Killed In Paramotor Aircraft Crash

The CDC said symptoms include the acute onset of any one or more of the following allergic and/or gastrointestinal symptoms that occur 2–10 hours after ingestion of pork, beef, lamb, any other mammalian meat, or any mammalian-derived product (e.g. gelatin), or within two hours after intramuscular, intravenous, or subcutaneous administration of alpha-gal containing vaccination or medication:

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  • Abdominal pain
  • Nausea
  • Diarrhea
  • Vomiting
  • Heartburn/indigestion
  • Hives
  • Itching
  • Anaphylaxis as diagnosed by a provider
  • Swelling of one or more of the following: lips, tongue, throat, face, eyelids, or other associated structures
  • Shortness of breath
  • Cough
  • Wheezing
  • Acute episode of hypotension

See also: Greenville Man Sentenced to 28 Months In Federal Prison For Bank Fraud





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2 injured, 1 in custody after stabbing at home near Oakland Beach

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2 injured, 1 in custody after stabbing at home near Oakland Beach


WARWICK, R.I. (WPRI) — A portion of Ottawa Avenue in Warwick was blocked off by crime scene tape Monday afternoon as police investigated a double stabbing.

According to Warwick police, the initial call they received around 3:30 p.m. indicated someone with a knife was trying to break into an Ottawa Avenue home as part of an ongoing domestic incident. As they headed to the scene, police said, additional calls came in letting them know that people had been stabbed.

Capt. Matthew Higgins said officers arrived at the scene and took 29-year-old Caleb Brown into custody immediately. They reportedly found two stabbing victims with critical injuries, one inside an Ottawa Avenue home, while another was found outside in a front yard.

The stabbing victims — a woman who was stabbed in the abdomen and a man who was stabbed in the neck — were both rushed to the hospital to undergo surgery, and both are expected to survive, according to police.

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Brown is also being treated at the hospital for minor injuries to his hands, police said.

Police tell 12 News they are still interviewing eyewitnesses, but are not looking for any other suspects, as this was an isolated incident. They say the suspect will be facing felony charges.

Download the WPRI 12 and Pinpoint Weather 12 apps to get breaking news and weather alerts.

Watch 12 News Now on WPRI.com or with the free WPRI 12+ TV app.

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