Urban Violent Crime Task Force arrests three linked to multiple shootings in greater Providence area

Investigators seize three firearms, large-capacity magazines, and narcotics from locations in Central Falls and Providence

 

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Attorney General Peter F. Neronha, Providence Commissioner of Public Safety Steven Paré, Providence Police Chief Hugh T. Clements, Jr., and Central Falls Police Chief Anthony Roberson announced that three individuals have been charged with multiple felony counts stemming from a joint investigation into multiple shooting incidents in the greater Providence area.

 

Daniel BarbosaMiguel Paulino, and Andre Pedigo were arraigned on June 16, 2022, in Sixth Division District Court and are currently being held without bail at the Adult Correctional Institutions (ACI).

 

“These arrests are just the latest example of how our coordinated, proactive investigative work across multiple local, state, and federal investigative agencies is working to remove those who drive violence in the greater Providence area,” said Attorney General Neronha. “The defendants here are alleged to be involved in multiple shooting incidents and one of them allegedly assaulted investigators during their attempt to take him into custody. I am grateful to the continued partnership of the multiple agencies directly involved in our Urban Violent Crime Initiative, and for the work of the Warwick Police Department and HSI in this case.”

 

As alleged in court documents, investigators from the Providence Police Department’s Intelligence Unit initiated an investigation with detectives assigned to the Attorney General’s Violent Crime Task Force into several shooting incidents in the greater Providence area involving members of local street gangs.

 

Following a shooting incident in Warwick on May 27, 2022, investigators allege that they were able to identify the defendants through video evidence and by positively matching bullet casings from three other shooting incidents that took place in Providence and Central Falls.

 

It is alleged that investigators linked one firearm to all four shooting incidents following analysis of bullet casings collected at the four crime scenes using a National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) machine, which allows for the capture and comparison of ballistic evidence.

 

On June 15, 2022, investigators simultaneously executed search warrants at several locations in Central Falls and Providence where they arrested the defendants and seized multiple firearms, ammunition, narcotics, drug paraphernalia, and evidence of additional firearms.

 

At a residence on Beacon Street in Central Falls, investigators located a 2014 Dodge Ram that was linked to the May 27 shooting in Warwick. When the driver of the truck, Daniel Barbosa, began to exit the driveway investigators attempted to stop the vehicle. The defendant sought to elude investigators and repeatedly rammed his truck into a police vehicle positioned in front of the driveway to prevent his escape. He also attempted to strike officers who were standing in the driveway.

 

During the incident, investigators observed him leaning over to reach into the rear passenger compartment. Eventually the defendant opened the driver’s side door and investigators attempted to take him into custody. The defendant resisted attempts to place him into handcuffs, and following a brief struggle, investigators successfully applied handcuffs.

 

Investigators searched the defendant’s truck and seized a Glock 21 .45 caliber semi-automatic handgun (discovered to be stolen); a bag of 24 grams of cocaine; and nine bags of fentanyl, totaling 11.3 grams. Investigators also searched the residence on Beacon Street and seized a .38 Special revolver loaded with 6 rounds; 158 grams of a substance that tested positive for fentanyl; 5.9 grams of crack cocaine; several oxycodone pills; 2,324 grams of marijuana, 21 grams of THC oil, six cell phones; a pill press; and drug paraphernalia.

 

At a residence on Tremont Street in Central Falls, investigators arrested Miguel Paulino and seized a Glock 26 9 mm semi-automatic handgun with a 24-round large-capacity magazine loaded with 19 rounds; an empty 30-round 9mm drum magazine; a quantity of .45 caliber and 9mm ammunition; and oxycodone pills.

 

At a residence on Summer Street in Central Falls, investigators arrested Andre Pedigo and seized 411 grams a marijuana; drug paraphernalia; and several cell phones and electronic devices.

 

“The Central Falls Police have always had a close working relationship with the Providence Police and all of our other law enforcement partners across the state but the Attorney General’s Violent Crime Task Force brings the collaborative efforts and resources of each individual department together to combat the violence that crosses our jurisdictional boundaries and allows us to target these violent criminals as one unit,” said Colonel Anthony Roberson, Chief of the Central Falls Police Department.

 

At a residence on Rhodes Street in Providence, investigators seized a box containing paperwork for the purchase of a Ruger LCP2 semi-automatic handgun and a Springfield Hellcat semi-automatic handgun (not recovered); three 9 mm pistol magazines; a quantity of 9 mm ammunition; and drug paraphernalia.

 

“The combination of excellent police work and the use of technology results in bringing criminal charges against individuals that are causing gun violence in the Greater Providence area,” said Providence Commissioner of Public Safety Steven Paré. “This strategic effort with detectives from the region, Department of Corrections Officers, federal officers from ATF and prosecutors and investigators from the Attorney General’s Office should send a clear message to criminals that there will be severe consequences to their violent criminal behavior.”

 

“ATF is committed to investigating and arresting those who commit violent crimes on the streets of Rhode Island,” said James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF Boston Field Division. “As we all know, illegal firearms trafficking in our communities, along with the violence that often accompanies it, poses a serious threat to our neighborhoods and is unacceptable and will not be allowed. ATF and our local, state, and federal partners are dedicated to bringing justice to those that commit these crimes.”

 

Detective Omar Ospina of the Central Falls Police Department and Detective Matthew McGloin of the Providence Police Department, both deputized by the Office of the Attorney General; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; Homeland Security Investigations; the Warwick Police Department; and Investigators Eric Yankee and William Dwyer and Assistant Attorney General Joseph J. McBurney of the Office of the Attorney General are leading the investigation and prosecution of the case.

 

 

Daniel Barbosa (age 27)

Central Falls, R.I.

62-2022-05563

 

The defendant was arraigned on June 16, 2022, in Sixth Division District Court and charged with four counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, motor vehicle; possession of a pistol while committing a crime of violence; three counts of possession of a firearm after a conviction of a crime of violence; alteration of identification marks on a firearm; three counts of possession with intent to deliver fentanyl; possession with intent to deliver oxycodone; possession with intent to deliver marijuana; possession of a firearm while possessing with intent to deliver fentanyl; possession of a firearm while possessing with intent to deliver fentanyl and cocaine; possession of narcotics within 300 yards of a school zone; keeping a common nuisance; obstruction of a police officer; resisting arrest; reckless operation of a motor vehicle; operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license; two counts of possession of cocaine; committing a crime of violence with a stolen firearm; possession of one ounce to one kilogram of cocaine; and possession of a pistol without a license.

 

At the time of his arrest, the defendant was on bail stemming from domestic violence and reckless driving charges, which are currently pending in Sixth Division District Court. The defendant is being held without bail at the Adult Correctional Institutions (ACI).

 

Miguel Paulino (age 27)

Providence, R.I

62-2022-05626

 

The defendant was arraigned on June 16, 2022, in Sixth Division District Court and charged with possession of firearm while possessing with intent to distribute oxycodone and possession with intent to deliver oxycodone.

 

At the time of his arrest, the defendant was on probation stemming from his conviction for carrying a pistol without a permit in 2018. The defendant is being held without bail at the ACI.

 

Andre Pedigo (age 22)

Central Falls, R.I.

62-2022-05624

 

The defendant was arraigned on June 16, 2022, in Sixth Division District Court and charged with possession with intent to deliver marijuana.

 

At the time of his arrest, the defendant was on probation stemming from his conviction for possession with intent to distribute marijuana in 2021. The defendant is being held without bail at the ACI.

 

 

Urban Violent Crime Initiative

 

The cases were investigated under an initiative that began in 2021, by the Office of the Attorney General; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Providence, Pawtucket, and Central Falls Police Departments; and the Department of Corrections to proactively target violent crime and firearms trafficking in the greater Providence Area.

 

Last week, two individuals were charged with multiple felony counts and a Pawtucket man was sentenced to state prison in separate straw purchasing cases investigated by the Urban Violent Crime Task Force.

 

The Attorney General has deputized officers from law enforcement agencies in Providence, Pawtucket, and Central Falls to provide greater ability to investigate suspects across municipal jurisdictions. As part of this initiative, prosecutors, investigators, and analysts work together to gather data and intelligence, analyze the information to support investigations and prosecutions, and guide violent crime enforcement priorities. The partner agencies have prioritized information sharing and analysis across agencies through the use of a data analyst and platform – funded through a Department of Justice grant awarded to the Office of the Attorney General in 2020.

 

Recently, the Office of the Attorney General purchased a National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) machine, only one of two in the entire state, using asset forfeiture funds, that will allow for the capture and comparison of ballistic evidence to aid in solving and preventing violent crimes involving firearms.

 

Using these tools, the team can quickly draw connections between different crime scenes and weave together police reports and other records to help identify suspects and witnesses.