RHODE ISLAND — In a span of just three days, Rhode Island State Police and partner agencies carried out a sweeping series of arrests across the state involving allegations ranging from firearms offenses and narcotics trafficking to child exploitation, fraud, fugitive apprehensions and domestic violence.
The arrests stretched from Providence and Pawtucket to Woonsocket, Cranston, Exeter and Scituate, reflecting a broad cross-section of criminal investigations conducted by specialized state police units.
One of the most significant arrests occurred in Woonsocket when the Major Crimes Unit, assisted by the Violent Fugitive Task Force and Patrol Bureau, arrested Ian Melendez Maldonado, 27, following the execution of a court-authorized search warrant.
Authorities charged Melendez Maldonado with Modification of a Semi-Auto Weapon, Manufacturing / Delivery / Possession with Intent to Manufacture / Deliver Marijuana 21-28-4.01 (a)(4)(i) – 2nd Offense, two counts of Possession of a Firearm Committing a Controlled Substance Violation, two counts of Possession of Firearms by a Prohibited Person and two counts of Large Capacity Feeding Devices.
Police said Melendez Maldonado was processed, transported to Sixth Division District Court for arraignment and presented as a bail violator.
Meanwhile, members of the Computer Crimes Unit and Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force made two separate arrests connected to investigations involving children.
Sean Cassidy, 53, of Pawtucket, was arrested on charges of Contributing to Delinquency and Furnishing and Procurement of Alcoholic Beverages for Underage Persons. State police said Cassidy was transported to headquarters, processed and arraigned before a justice of the peace before being released.
In a separate case, members of the Computer Crimes Unit and Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, working alongside Homeland Security Investigations, arrested Brandon Lurssen Valladares, 26, of Providence on a charge of Possession of Child Pornography. Authorities said Valladares was transported to the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island for arraignment.
Drug investigations conducted by the HIDTA Task Force also resulted in multiple arrests.
On June 1, members of the HIDTA Task Force and troopers from the Hope Valley Barracks arrested Santonio Young, 46, of Woonsocket following the execution of search warrants at the conclusion of a narcotics investigation.
Young was charged with Possession with Intent to Deliver One Ounce to One Kilogram of a Schedule II Controlled Substance – Cocaine, Possession with Intent to Deliver a Schedule II Controlled Substance – Cocaine and Controlled Substance Conspiracy.
Police said Young was transported to the Lincoln Woods Barracks and held overnight pending arraignment.
The following day, investigators arrested Roberto Cruz, 54, of Scituate after another narcotics investigation culminated in the execution of search warrants.
Authorities charged Cruz with Possession with Intent to Deliver One Ounce to One Kilogram of a Schedule II Controlled Substance – Cocaine, Possession with Intent to Deliver a Schedule II Controlled Substance – Cocaine and Controlled Substance Conspiracy.
Police said Cruz was processed and transported to court for arraignment.
Fugitive investigators were also active during the operation period.
Members of the Rhode Island Violent Fugitive Task Force arrested Paris P. DaSilva, 29, of Pawtucket on warrants issued by both the Cranston and Pawtucket Police Departments.
Authorities said the warrants included allegations of Reckless Driving/Eluding and Obstruction as well as Reckless Driving/Eluding. Police reported DaSilva was taken into custody without incident and transported to the Cranston Police Department.
Troopers conducting enforcement activity in Providence made several additional arrests during traffic stops.
Austin Gomes, 35, of Providence, was arrested on a Sixth District Court Bench Warrant for Failure to Appear on a charge of Domestic Assault-Vandalism originating from the Providence Police Department.
Andrew Lawrence, 25, of Providence, was arrested and charged with Manufacturing/Delivery/Possession with Intent to Manufacture / Deliver Scheduled I-II Controlled Substance (Marijuana) – 1st Offense and Driving With Suspended License – 4th Offense. State police said Lawrence was later held as a probation violator.
Edy Giron Lopez, 26, of Providence, was arrested following a motor vehicle stop on Route 6 and charged with Driving Under the Influence of Liquor – First Offense – BAC Unknown and Refusal to Submit to a Chemical Breath Test – First Offense.
Investigators also announced the arrest of Linda Carrasquillo Delgado, 65, of Providence following a state police investigation.
Authorities charged Delgado with Obtaining Property by False Pretenses / Personation Greater Than 10,000, Fraudulently Obtain Public Assistance Greater Than 500 and Fraudulent Use of Food Stamps Greater Than 500.
Police said troopers located Delgado at her residence before transporting her to the Lincoln Woods Barracks for processing and arraignment.
The final arrest announced by state police involved a domestic violence investigation in Exeter.
Lucas Fitton, 30, of West Greenwich, was arrested after troopers responded to a residential address in town.
Fitton was charged with Domestic Violence- Simple Assault- 1st Offense and Domestic Violence- Refusal to Relinquish or to Damage or to Obstruct Telephone.
Authorities said he was processed, arraigned by a justice of the peace and released with a future court date.
All charges are allegations. Every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.