Twenty-Six Charged in Indictment Alleging Federal Racketeering, Conspiracy, and Other Crimes

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - First Assistant United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda and Thomas A. Greco, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Boston Field Division, in partnership with Colonel Oscar L. Perez, Chief of Police, Providence Police Department, announced federal charges against twenty-six individuals. The indictment alleged that several Providence-area street gangs, including the East Side gang, the Congress gang, and their various subsets and associates constituted a criminal enterprise. Three additional defendants are charged with related offenses. The charges are the result of a multi-agency investigation conducted by federal, state, and local law enforcement partners.

According to court documents, the Enterprise operated in Providence, Pawtucket, Central Falls, and elsewhere since at least 2013. The indictment alleges that members and associates of the enterprise worked together to advance the interests of the organization through acts of violence, narcotics trafficking, firearms offenses, fraud schemes, and other criminal activity.

Court documents further allege that members and associates of the enterprise distributed controlled substances, including fentanyl, cocaine, cocaine base, marijuana, and Percocet, and that narcotics trafficking served as a significant source of income for the enterprise.

The indictment further alleges that members and associates of the enterprise participated in violent acts, including murder, conspiracy to commit murder, attempted murder, assault with intent to commit murder, robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery, firearms offenses, narcotics trafficking, wire fraud, and other criminal conduct. The indictment also alleges that certain members and associates participated in fraud schemes involving unemployment insurance benefits, COVID-19 relief programs, tax filings, and other financial crimes.

The indictment charges twenty-three defendants with participation in the racketeering conspiracy and three additional defendants with related offenses.

The matter was investigated by ATF, the Providence Police Department, the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General, IRS Criminal Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, and numerous additional federal, state, and local law enforcement partners including the Providence Police Department Intelligence Unit.

The charges contained in the indictment are allegations. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Additional information will be provided at the appropriate time.

On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division ("Fraud Division"). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department's work to combat fraud supports President Trump's Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.