West Warwick man sentenced to 7 years at the ACI on firearm and drug charges

Attorney General Peter F. Neronha announced that Justin Taylor (age 29), of West Warwick pleaded nolo contendere in Providence Superior Court on October 21, 2019 to six felony firearm and drug related charges. Superior Court Magistrate Richard D. Raspallo sentenced Taylor to 15 years with seven years to serve at the Adult Correctional Institutions and the balance suspended with probation.

Taylor pleaded to one count each of: possession with intent to deliver cocaine; possession of a firearm after being convicted of a crime of violence; illegally selling a concealable firearm; conspiracy to illegally sell a concealable firearm; conspiracy to deliver cocaine; and conspiracy to obtain money under false pretenses.

Taylor was arrested after a joint investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Rhode Island State Police High Intensity Drug Traffic Area Task Force (HIDTA).

Had the case proceeded to trial, the State was prepared to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that on multiple dates between February 2019 and April 2019, Taylor sold cocaine and firearms to a cooperating witness working with ATF in West Warwick and Pawtucket.

Specifically, between February 2019 and April 2019, Taylor sold cocaine to the cooperating witness on two separate occasions. On two other occasions, Taylor sold separate firearms to the cooperating witness. He enlisted the help of two co-conspirators in these transactions, Elizabeth Brouillard and Kevin Smith.

In April of 2019, Taylor arranged to sell another firearm to the cooperating witness, but instead delivered a toy gun after receiving payment. In this transaction, Taylor was assisted by a co-conspirator, Dylan Hanson.

ATF Special Agent Kellie Senecal, Corporal Derek Melfi of the Rhode Island State Police, and Detective Dennis Smith of the Pawtucket Police Department led the investigation into the case. Assistant Attorney General Joseph McBurney and Special Assistant Attorney General Katelyn Revens prosecuted the case on behalf of the Office of the Attorney General.