Brandon Querceto & Jacqueline Caraballo Sentenced
Two Defendants Sentenced, Third Awaiting Trial in Drug Trafficking Conspiracy
PROVIDENCE, RI – Two of three Pawtucket residents indicted by a federal grand jury for their participation in a conspiracy to traffic heroin, cocaine and crack cocaine have been sentenced to federal prison.
Appearing today before U.S. District Court Judge John J. McConnell, Jr., Brandon Querceto, 31, was sentenced to 72 months in prison to be followed by 4 years supervised release. He pleaded guilty on June 11, 2018, to possession with intent to distribute heroin and possession with intent to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine base.
On September 11, 2018, Jacqueline Caraballo, 45, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge John J. McConnell, Jr., to 48 months in prison to be followed by 3 years supervised release. On June 8, 2018, Caraballo pleaded guilty to five counts of distribution of heroin, and one count each of conspiracy to distribute heroin; conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine; cocaine base and heroin; possession with intent to distribute heroin; possession with intent to distribute cocaine; and possession with intent to distribute cocaine base.
In the matter of Jacqueline Caraballo, as stipulated in a plea agreement filed with the Court, both the government and the defense recommended that the Court impose a sentence of 48 months of incarceration. The U.S. Sentencing Guideline imprisonment range in this matter is 57-71 months.
In the matter of Brandon Querceto, as stipulated in a plea agreement filed with the Court, both the government and the defense recommended that the Court impose a sentence of 72 months of incarceration. The U.S. Sentencing Guideline imprisonment range is 188-235 months.
The sentences imposed are announced by United States Attorney Stephen G. Dambruch, Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Goncalves and Mickey Leadingham, Special Agent in Charge of the Boston Field Division of ATF.
A third defendant, Michael Querceto, 33, is awaiting trial on four counts of distribution of heroin, and one count each of conspiracy to distribute heroin; conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin; cocaine and cocaine base; possession with intent to distribute heroin; possession with intent to distribute cocaine; possession with intent to distribute cocaine base; felon in possession of a firearm; and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes.
According to information presented to the Court, in September 2017, Pawtucket Police received information that an individual in Pawtucket was allegedly dealing heroin, arranging for the drug transactions via his cell telephone. Pawtucket Police linked the phone to Michael Querceto. The investigation also determined that Michael Querceto, his brother Brandon Querceto, and Jacqueline Caraballo shared the same residence.
According to information presented to the Court, a Pawtucket Police Department undercover officer allegedly called Michael Querceto several times to arrange for a series of purchases of heroin. Several purchases were made over a span of several weeks. On four occasions, Caraballo delivered the heroin, and on one occasion both Caraballo and Michael Querceto together delivered the heroin. On all but one occasion, the undercover officer contacted Michael Querceto to arrange the deliveries.
On October 11, 2017, a court-authorized search warrant was executed at the Pawtucket residence the three defendants shared. During the search, law enforcement seized from Brandon Querceto’s bedroom more than 5 grams of heroin and nearly 60 grams of crack cocaine packaged for distribution. Additionally, from other locations within the residence, law enforcement seized various amounts of heroin, cocaine, crack cocaine, steroids and fentanyl, $6,796 in cash, and a handgun.
The indictment against Michael Querceto is merely an allegation and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ronald R. Gendron.
The matter was investigated by the Pawtucket Police Department, with the assistance of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.