Levys Tovar Criminal Complaint and Arrest

United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha

District of Rhode Island

Twice Convicted Drug Trafficker Detained in Third Drug Trafficking Investigation

PROVIDENCE – A United Parcel Service employee twice convicted and incarcerated for trafficking kilos of heroin, and, who allegedly used his position at UPS to attempt to locate a package shipped from Columbia that contained multiple kilograms of cocaine, has been ordered detained in federal custody on drug trafficking charges, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.

In November 2022, Custom and Border Protection intercepted a package sent from Colombia and it was discovered that it contained cocaine packed inside of two ball bearings. When the package failed to be delivered to one of several addresses associated with Levys Tovar, 43, of Central Falls and Pawtucket, Tovar allegedly inquired of a customer service supervisor where he worked as to the location of the package. Tovar allegedly claimed that he was attempting to locate the package “for his neighbor.”

Information obtained by Homeland Security Investigations determined that the intended delivery address was the home Tovar shared with his girlfriend and that the “neighbor” Tovar described did not exist.

Tovar, charged by way of a criminal complaint with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute over 500 grams of cocaine and unlawful use of a communication facility (including the mails) to facilitate the distribution of a controlled substance, was ordered detained following his arrest on Monday.

A federal criminal complaint is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

According to court records, Tovar was convicted in federal court in 2004 of possession with intent to distribute one kilogram of heroin, and again in 2011on a charge of attempt to possess with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin. Tovar is currently on supervised release for the 2011conviction, and is scheduled to return to court on March 7, 2023, for an initial appearance as an alleged violator of supervised release.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stacey A. Erickson.

The matter was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations’ Northeast Corridor Border Enforcement Team; Custom and Border Protection; and the Central Falls, Pawtucket, Providence, and Warwick Police Departments.