West Warwick couple arrested after drug bust
by: Jusolyn Flower
WEST WARWICK, R.I. (WPRI) — Two West Warwick residents are facing multiple charges after a months-long investigation led to the discovery of a large quantity of drugs in their home, where police found a child who had been exposed to cocaine and fentanyl.
Julio E. Rivera and Cecelia Gallucci were arrested on Friday, Aug. 2, after police searched their Remington Street home.
Inside, officers found significant amounts of fentanyl, cocaine, crack cocaine, methamphetamine, and marijuana, along with packaging materials commonly used for distribution.
According to West Warwick police, Rivera and Gallucci’s child was present in the home and was subsequently taken to Hasbro Children’s Hospital for evaluation. Test results revealed that the child had been exposed to both cocaine and fentanyl. The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) has since taken custody of the child.
Rivera and Gallucci are facing several charges, including:
- Delivery, possession with intent to deliver, or manufacture of a Schedule I or II Narcotic (five counts)
- Child endangerment
- Controlled substance conspiracy
- Distribution or manufacturing in or near a school, public park, or playground
In addition, police said a search of three storage units associated with Rivera uncovered five firearms, distribution amounts of marijuana, and other unknown powder substances. He faces further charges, including:
- Possession of firearms by a person convicted of a crime of violence (five counts)
- Possession of a ghost gun
- Possession of a stolen firearm
- Possession of a firearm with altered marks of identification
- Large capacity magazine/feeding device prohibited
- Delivery, possession with intent to deliver, or manufacture of a Schedule I or II Narcotic
On Wednesday, Aug. 21, a separate search of a rental unit in Glocester revealed a large landscape dump trailer stolen from Massachusetts and a towable mobile home reported stolen from New York, according to investigators. Glocester Police charged Rivera with two counts of possession of a stolen motor vehicle.
Both Rivera and Gallucci are currently being held at the ACI without bail.