Scott Arnum Sentenced

ARMED DRUG TRAFFICKER SENTENCED TO 6 YEARS IN PRISON

PROVIDENCE – A Providence man found to be in possession of a loaded firearm, ammunition, several bags of crack cocaine, and a large bag of marijuana when stopped by Pawtucket Police for a traffic violation, has been sentenced to 72 months in federal prison.

Scott Arnum, 30, was stopped by Pawtucket Police on September 18, 2017, after he failed to use a turn signal and his vehicle stopped short in front of a police cruiser. As the officer approached the vehicle she smelled a strong odor of marijuana emanating from the vehicle and observed the driver making rapid movements. Arnum complied with the officer’s request to exit the vehicle.

Once out of the vehicle, officers discovered a large bag of marijuana and six bags of crack cocaine inside Arnum’s clothing. A seventh bag fell out of Arnum’s underwear after he was transported to the police station. An inventory of Arnum’s vehicle resulted in the seizure of a loaded 9mm pistol and two loaded 9mm magazines from the vehicle’s glovebox.

Arnum pleaded guilty on September 17, 2019, to possession with the intent to distribute crack cocaine, felon in possession of a firearm, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.

According to court records, in December 2010, Arnum was sentenced to 84 months in federal prison and 5 years supervised release, having been convicted for possession of crack cocaine with the intent to distribute and felon in possession of a firearm.

In this most recent case, Arnum was sentenced on December 6, 2019, by U.S. District Court Judge William E. Smith to 72 months in federal prison to be followed by 3 years supervised release.

Arnum’s sentence is announced by United States Attorney Aaron L. Weisman, Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Goncalves, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New England Field Division Brian D. Boyle, and Special Agent in Charge of the Boston Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Kelly D. Brady.

This Project Safe Neighborhoods case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ronald R. Gendron.

Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.