Pawtucket man to serve life in prison for murder

Pawtucket man to serve life in prison for murder

Published on Friday, October 31, 2025

Attorney General Peter F. Neronha announced today that a Pawtucket man was sentenced in Providence County Superior Court to serve life in prison for the murder of 28-year-old Jovani Velez in 2022.

On October 30, 2025, Jovon Depina (age 28) pled guilty to one count of first-degree murder, one count of conspiracy to commit murder, and one count of possession of a ghost gun. Superior Court Justice Robert D. Krause sentenced the defendant to life at the Adult Corrections Institutions and a consecutive ten years with five years to serve and ten years of probation for possession of a ghost gun.

"When criminals have access to firearms, in this case a ghost gun, lives are lost; it's as simple and tragic as that," said Attorney General Neronha. "The defendant decided that a verbal altercation warranted murder, and because of that decision, Jovani's life was taken much too soon. While nothing can bring Jovani back, I hope his family and friends can find some semblance of peace knowing justice was served. I am grateful to the Pawtucket Police Department and the prosecutors in my office for their excellent work on this case."

Had the case proceeded to trial, the State was prepared to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant shot and killed Jovani Velez.

On January 30, 2022, at approximately 6:51 PM, the defendant and a co-defendant, Elijah Soto, met Jovani Velez in a parking lot near Park and Laurel Steets in Pawtucket to sell Jovani a small amount of cocaine. Jovani exited the vehicle in which he arrived, and entered the backseat of the Nissan Murano that the defendant and Soto arrived in. After the sale, an argument ensued in the vehicle, and Jovani exited the vehicle to wait for his ride, at which time the defendant directed Soto to drive him home.

When they arrived, the defendant went inside his home and returned to the vehicle wearing a black jacket, black gloves, and carrying a black ghost gun firearm. The defendant and Soto returned to the parking lot where Jovani was still waiting for his ride. Video surveillance from the parking lot captured the defendant exiting the Murano and discharging several rounds of ammunition at Jovani, striking him in the stomach and ultimately killing him.

"Gun violence is never the answer, and perpetrators will be met with accountability," said Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Golcalves. "The men and women of the Pawtucket Police Department work tirelessly every day to ensure that our neighborhoods are safe from gun violence. I want to thank our officers and our partners in the Attorney General's Office for their hard work this case."

Special Assistant Attorneys General Michael S. McCabe and Daniel C. Hopkins of the Attorney General's Office and Detective Jonathan Gagnon and Sergeant Andrew Torres of the Pawtucket Police Department led the investigation and prosecution of the case.

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