BOSTON – Two Rhode Island men have been indicted by a federal grand jury for their alleged roles in a fentanyl trafficking conspiracy that spanned across Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New York.
Jasdrual Perez, 33, of Cranston, R.I., and Erik Ventura, 33, of Providence, R.I., were each indicted on one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. The defendants were arrested and charged by criminal complaint on Feb. 14, 2022, and have remained in custody since.
/**
* SNN Article Link Cleanup & Display Stability
* Disable BOTH "Link Cleaner" and "WP Perf" before activating.
* Paste into Code Snippets as PHP; run everywhere.
*
* Standard RSS feeds, REST output, schema and article identifiers
* are not rewritten. Requires WordPress 6.2+ for link cleanup.
*/
if ( ! class_exists( 'SNN_Safe_Display_20261031', false ) ) {
final class SNN_Safe_Display_20261031 {
public static function boot() {
add_action( 'init', array( __CLASS__, 'head_cleanup' ), 20 );
add_filter( 'the_content', array( __CLASS__, 'article_links' ), 99 );
add_action( 'wp_enqueue_scripts', array( __CLASS__, 'display_css' ), 100 );
}
public static function head_cleanup() {
if ( is_admin() ) {
return;
}
remove_action( 'wp_head', 'wp_generator' );
remove_action( 'wp_head', 'print_emoji_detection_script', 7 );
remove_action( 'wp_print_styles', 'print_emoji_styles' );
}
public static function skip_request() {
return is_admin()
|| is_feed()
|| is_trackback()
|| ( defined( 'REST_REQUEST' ) && REST_REQUEST )
|| wp_doing_ajax()
|| is_preview();
}
/**
* Remove UTM parameters while preserving other query parameters,
* their order, encoding and the URL fragment.
*/
public static function clean_url( $url ) {
if ( ! is_string( $url ) || $url === '' ) {
return $url;
}
// Preserve non-web schemes such as mailto:, tel: and data:.
if (
preg_match( '/^[a-z][a-z0-9+.-]*:/i', $url )
&& ! preg_match( '~^https?://~i', $url )
) {
return $url;
}
$parts = explode( '#', $url, 2 );
$base = explode( '?', $parts[0], 2 );
if ( count( $base ) !== 2 ) {
return $url;
}
$pairs = explode( '&', $base[1] );
// Preserve commonly signed URLs.
foreach ( $pairs as $pair ) {
$parameter = explode( '=', $pair, 2 );
$key = strtolower( urldecode( $parameter[0] ) );
if (
in_array(
$key,
array(
'signature',
'sig',
'x-amz-signature',
'x-goog-signature',
),
true
)
) {
return $url;
}
}
$kept = array();
$changed = false;
foreach ( $pairs as $pair ) {
$parameter = explode( '=', $pair, 2 );
$key = urldecode( $parameter[0] );
if ( stripos( $key, 'utm_' ) === 0 ) {
$changed = true;
continue;
}
$kept[] = $pair;
}
if ( ! $changed ) {
return $url;
}
$query = implode( '&', $kept );
return $base[0]
. ( $query !== '' ? '?' . $query : '' )
. ( isset( $parts[1] ) ? '#' . $parts[1] : '' );
}
/**
* Clean anchor URLs in displayed single-post content only.
* Do not buffer or rewrite the full page or feed response.
*/
public static function article_links( $html ) {
if (
! is_string( $html )
|| self::skip_request()
|| ! is_singular( 'post' )
|| ! in_the_loop()
|| ! is_main_query()
|| apply_filters( 'snn_safe_display_skip_links', false )
|| ! class_exists( 'WP_HTML_Tag_Processor' )
) {
return $html;
}
$processor = new WP_HTML_Tag_Processor( $html );
while ( $processor->next_tag( 'A' ) ) {
$href = $processor->get_attribute( 'href' );
if ( ! is_string( $href ) ) {
continue;
}
$clean = self::clean_url( $href );
if ( $clean !== $href ) {
$processor->set_attribute( 'href', $clean );
}
}
return $processor->get_updated_html();
}
public static function display_css() {
if ( self::skip_request() || ! is_singular( 'post' ) ) {
return;
}
/*
* Space reservations apply only to ad wrappers with these classes.
* Adjust the heights to match your actual ad placements.
* Unfilled ad slots can retain blank space.
*/
$css = '
.snn-ad-container.snn-ad-inarticle {
min-height: 280px;
}
.snn-ad-container.snn-ad-sidebar {
min-height: 280px;
}
.entry-content p.wp-block-paragraph {
overflow-wrap: break-word;
}
@media (max-width: 921px) {
.snn-ad-container.snn-ad-sidebar {
min-height: 100px;
}
}
';
wp_register_style(
'snn-safe-display',
false,
array(),
'1.0.0'
);
wp_enqueue_style( 'snn-safe-display' );
wp_add_inline_style( 'snn-safe-display', $css );
}
}
SNN_Safe_Display_20261031::boot();
}
According to the charging documents, in September 2019, an investigation began into a drug trafficking organization (DTO) headed by Perez. The investigation revealed that Perez, Ventura and others allegedly conspired to distribute large quantities of controlled substances, including fentanyl pills, to customers in numerous locations across Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New York. It is further alleged that the DTO manufactured fentanyl pills for distribution. In July 2021, over 1,000 counterfeit oxycodone pills suspected to contain fentanyl, allegedly attributable to the Perez DTO, were seized
According to court documents, on Feb. 7, 2022, a search of Perez’s residence resulted in the seizure of two pill presses, a gallon-sized freezer bag suspected to contain fentanyl pills, more than 50,000 counterfeit oxycodone pills suspected to contain fentanyl and multiple marijuana plants. In total, over 10 kilograms of suspected fentanyl was seized.
The charge of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $10 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins, Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Boston Field Division and Joleen D. Simpson, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations, Boston Field Office, made the announcement today. Special assistance in the investigation was provided by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Rhode Island; the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Providence Field Office; the Drug Enforcement Administration, Providence Field Office; the Rhode Island State Police Department; and the Cranston, Warwick and West Warwick Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Craig E. Estes and Lindsey E. Weinstein of Rollins’ Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit are prosecuting the case.
/**
* SNN Article Link Cleanup & Display Stability
* Disable BOTH "Link Cleaner" and "WP Perf" before activating.
* Paste into Code Snippets as PHP; run everywhere.
*
* Standard RSS feeds, REST output, schema and article identifiers
* are not rewritten. Requires WordPress 6.2+ for link cleanup.
*/
if ( ! class_exists( 'SNN_Safe_Display_20261031', false ) ) {
final class SNN_Safe_Display_20261031 {
public static function boot() {
add_action( 'init', array( __CLASS__, 'head_cleanup' ), 20 );
add_filter( 'the_content', array( __CLASS__, 'article_links' ), 99 );
add_action( 'wp_enqueue_scripts', array( __CLASS__, 'display_css' ), 100 );
}
public static function head_cleanup() {
if ( is_admin() ) {
return;
}
remove_action( 'wp_head', 'wp_generator' );
remove_action( 'wp_head', 'print_emoji_detection_script', 7 );
remove_action( 'wp_print_styles', 'print_emoji_styles' );
}
public static function skip_request() {
return is_admin()
|| is_feed()
|| is_trackback()
|| ( defined( 'REST_REQUEST' ) && REST_REQUEST )
|| wp_doing_ajax()
|| is_preview();
}
/**
* Remove UTM parameters while preserving other query parameters,
* their order, encoding and the URL fragment.
*/
public static function clean_url( $url ) {
if ( ! is_string( $url ) || $url === '' ) {
return $url;
}
// Preserve non-web schemes such as mailto:, tel: and data:.
if (
preg_match( '/^[a-z][a-z0-9+.-]*:/i', $url )
&& ! preg_match( '~^https?://~i', $url )
) {
return $url;
}
$parts = explode( '#', $url, 2 );
$base = explode( '?', $parts[0], 2 );
if ( count( $base ) !== 2 ) {
return $url;
}
$pairs = explode( '&', $base[1] );
// Preserve commonly signed URLs.
foreach ( $pairs as $pair ) {
$parameter = explode( '=', $pair, 2 );
$key = strtolower( urldecode( $parameter[0] ) );
if (
in_array(
$key,
array(
'signature',
'sig',
'x-amz-signature',
'x-goog-signature',
),
true
)
) {
return $url;
}
}
$kept = array();
$changed = false;
foreach ( $pairs as $pair ) {
$parameter = explode( '=', $pair, 2 );
$key = urldecode( $parameter[0] );
if ( stripos( $key, 'utm_' ) === 0 ) {
$changed = true;
continue;
}
$kept[] = $pair;
}
if ( ! $changed ) {
return $url;
}
$query = implode( '&', $kept );
return $base[0]
. ( $query !== '' ? '?' . $query : '' )
. ( isset( $parts[1] ) ? '#' . $parts[1] : '' );
}
/**
* Clean anchor URLs in displayed single-post content only.
* Do not buffer or rewrite the full page or feed response.
*/
public static function article_links( $html ) {
if (
! is_string( $html )
|| self::skip_request()
|| ! is_singular( 'post' )
|| ! in_the_loop()
|| ! is_main_query()
|| apply_filters( 'snn_safe_display_skip_links', false )
|| ! class_exists( 'WP_HTML_Tag_Processor' )
) {
return $html;
}
$processor = new WP_HTML_Tag_Processor( $html );
while ( $processor->next_tag( 'A' ) ) {
$href = $processor->get_attribute( 'href' );
if ( ! is_string( $href ) ) {
continue;
}
$clean = self::clean_url( $href );
if ( $clean !== $href ) {
$processor->set_attribute( 'href', $clean );
}
}
return $processor->get_updated_html();
}
public static function display_css() {
if ( self::skip_request() || ! is_singular( 'post' ) ) {
return;
}
/*
* Space reservations apply only to ad wrappers with these classes.
* Adjust the heights to match your actual ad placements.
* Unfilled ad slots can retain blank space.
*/
$css = '
.snn-ad-container.snn-ad-inarticle {
min-height: 280px;
}
.snn-ad-container.snn-ad-sidebar {
min-height: 280px;
}
.entry-content p.wp-block-paragraph {
overflow-wrap: break-word;
}
@media (max-width: 921px) {
.snn-ad-container.snn-ad-sidebar {
min-height: 100px;
}
}
';
wp_register_style(
'snn-safe-display',
false,
array(),
'1.0.0'
);
wp_enqueue_style( 'snn-safe-display' );
wp_add_inline_style( 'snn-safe-display', $css );
}
}
SNN_Safe_Display_20261031::boot();
}
This operation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
/**
* SNN Article Link Cleanup & Display Stability
* Disable BOTH "Link Cleaner" and "WP Perf" before activating.
* Paste into Code Snippets as PHP; run everywhere.
*
* Standard RSS feeds, REST output, schema and article identifiers
* are not rewritten. Requires WordPress 6.2+ for link cleanup.
*/
if ( ! class_exists( 'SNN_Safe_Display_20261031', false ) ) {
final class SNN_Safe_Display_20261031 {
public static function boot() {
add_action( 'init', array( __CLASS__, 'head_cleanup' ), 20 );
add_filter( 'the_content', array( __CLASS__, 'article_links' ), 99 );
add_action( 'wp_enqueue_scripts', array( __CLASS__, 'display_css' ), 100 );
}
public static function head_cleanup() {
if ( is_admin() ) {
return;
}
remove_action( 'wp_head', 'wp_generator' );
remove_action( 'wp_head', 'print_emoji_detection_script', 7 );
remove_action( 'wp_print_styles', 'print_emoji_styles' );
}
public static function skip_request() {
return is_admin()
|| is_feed()
|| is_trackback()
|| ( defined( 'REST_REQUEST' ) && REST_REQUEST )
|| wp_doing_ajax()
|| is_preview();
}
/**
* Remove UTM parameters while preserving other query parameters,
* their order, encoding and the URL fragment.
*/
public static function clean_url( $url ) {
if ( ! is_string( $url ) || $url === '' ) {
return $url;
}
// Preserve non-web schemes such as mailto:, tel: and data:.
if (
preg_match( '/^[a-z][a-z0-9+.-]*:/i', $url )
&& ! preg_match( '~^https?://~i', $url )
) {
return $url;
}
$parts = explode( '#', $url, 2 );
$base = explode( '?', $parts[0], 2 );
if ( count( $base ) !== 2 ) {
return $url;
}
$pairs = explode( '&', $base[1] );
// Preserve commonly signed URLs.
foreach ( $pairs as $pair ) {
$parameter = explode( '=', $pair, 2 );
$key = strtolower( urldecode( $parameter[0] ) );
if (
in_array(
$key,
array(
'signature',
'sig',
'x-amz-signature',
'x-goog-signature',
),
true
)
) {
return $url;
}
}
$kept = array();
$changed = false;
foreach ( $pairs as $pair ) {
$parameter = explode( '=', $pair, 2 );
$key = urldecode( $parameter[0] );
if ( stripos( $key, 'utm_' ) === 0 ) {
$changed = true;
continue;
}
$kept[] = $pair;
}
if ( ! $changed ) {
return $url;
}
$query = implode( '&', $kept );
return $base[0]
. ( $query !== '' ? '?' . $query : '' )
. ( isset( $parts[1] ) ? '#' . $parts[1] : '' );
}
/**
* Clean anchor URLs in displayed single-post content only.
* Do not buffer or rewrite the full page or feed response.
*/
public static function article_links( $html ) {
if (
! is_string( $html )
|| self::skip_request()
|| ! is_singular( 'post' )
|| ! in_the_loop()
|| ! is_main_query()
|| apply_filters( 'snn_safe_display_skip_links', false )
|| ! class_exists( 'WP_HTML_Tag_Processor' )
) {
return $html;
}
$processor = new WP_HTML_Tag_Processor( $html );
while ( $processor->next_tag( 'A' ) ) {
$href = $processor->get_attribute( 'href' );
if ( ! is_string( $href ) ) {
continue;
}
$clean = self::clean_url( $href );
if ( $clean !== $href ) {
$processor->set_attribute( 'href', $clean );
}
}
return $processor->get_updated_html();
}
public static function display_css() {
if ( self::skip_request() || ! is_singular( 'post' ) ) {
return;
}
/*
* Space reservations apply only to ad wrappers with these classes.
* Adjust the heights to match your actual ad placements.
* Unfilled ad slots can retain blank space.
*/
$css = '
.snn-ad-container.snn-ad-inarticle {
min-height: 280px;
}
.snn-ad-container.snn-ad-sidebar {
min-height: 280px;
}
.entry-content p.wp-block-paragraph {
overflow-wrap: break-word;
}
@media (max-width: 921px) {
.snn-ad-container.snn-ad-sidebar {
min-height: 100px;
}
}
';
wp_register_style(
'snn-safe-display',
false,
array(),
'1.0.0'
);
wp_enqueue_style( 'snn-safe-display' );
wp_add_inline_style( 'snn-safe-display', $css );
}
}
SNN_Safe_Display_20261031::boot();
}
/**
* SNN Article Link Cleanup & Display Stability
* Disable BOTH "Link Cleaner" and "WP Perf" before activating.
* Paste into Code Snippets as PHP; run everywhere.
*
* Standard RSS feeds, REST output, schema and article identifiers
* are not rewritten. Requires WordPress 6.2+ for link cleanup.
*/
if ( ! class_exists( 'SNN_Safe_Display_20261031', false ) ) {
final class SNN_Safe_Display_20261031 {
public static function boot() {
add_action( 'init', array( __CLASS__, 'head_cleanup' ), 20 );
add_filter( 'the_content', array( __CLASS__, 'article_links' ), 99 );
add_action( 'wp_enqueue_scripts', array( __CLASS__, 'display_css' ), 100 );
}
public static function head_cleanup() {
if ( is_admin() ) {
return;
}
remove_action( 'wp_head', 'wp_generator' );
remove_action( 'wp_head', 'print_emoji_detection_script', 7 );
remove_action( 'wp_print_styles', 'print_emoji_styles' );
}
public static function skip_request() {
return is_admin()
|| is_feed()
|| is_trackback()
|| ( defined( 'REST_REQUEST' ) && REST_REQUEST )
|| wp_doing_ajax()
|| is_preview();
}
/**
* Remove UTM parameters while preserving other query parameters,
* their order, encoding and the URL fragment.
*/
public static function clean_url( $url ) {
if ( ! is_string( $url ) || $url === '' ) {
return $url;
}
// Preserve non-web schemes such as mailto:, tel: and data:.
if (
preg_match( '/^[a-z][a-z0-9+.-]*:/i', $url )
&& ! preg_match( '~^https?://~i', $url )
) {
return $url;
}
$parts = explode( '#', $url, 2 );
$base = explode( '?', $parts[0], 2 );
if ( count( $base ) !== 2 ) {
return $url;
}
$pairs = explode( '&', $base[1] );
// Preserve commonly signed URLs.
foreach ( $pairs as $pair ) {
$parameter = explode( '=', $pair, 2 );
$key = strtolower( urldecode( $parameter[0] ) );
if (
in_array(
$key,
array(
'signature',
'sig',
'x-amz-signature',
'x-goog-signature',
),
true
)
) {
return $url;
}
}
$kept = array();
$changed = false;
foreach ( $pairs as $pair ) {
$parameter = explode( '=', $pair, 2 );
$key = urldecode( $parameter[0] );
if ( stripos( $key, 'utm_' ) === 0 ) {
$changed = true;
continue;
}
$kept[] = $pair;
}
if ( ! $changed ) {
return $url;
}
$query = implode( '&', $kept );
return $base[0]
. ( $query !== '' ? '?' . $query : '' )
. ( isset( $parts[1] ) ? '#' . $parts[1] : '' );
}
/**
* Clean anchor URLs in displayed single-post content only.
* Do not buffer or rewrite the full page or feed response.
*/
public static function article_links( $html ) {
if (
! is_string( $html )
|| self::skip_request()
|| ! is_singular( 'post' )
|| ! in_the_loop()
|| ! is_main_query()
|| apply_filters( 'snn_safe_display_skip_links', false )
|| ! class_exists( 'WP_HTML_Tag_Processor' )
) {
return $html;
}
$processor = new WP_HTML_Tag_Processor( $html );
while ( $processor->next_tag( 'A' ) ) {
$href = $processor->get_attribute( 'href' );
if ( ! is_string( $href ) ) {
continue;
}
$clean = self::clean_url( $href );
if ( $clean !== $href ) {
$processor->set_attribute( 'href', $clean );
}
}
return $processor->get_updated_html();
}
public static function display_css() {
if ( self::skip_request() || ! is_singular( 'post' ) ) {
return;
}
/*
* Space reservations apply only to ad wrappers with these classes.
* Adjust the heights to match your actual ad placements.
* Unfilled ad slots can retain blank space.
*/
$css = '
.snn-ad-container.snn-ad-inarticle {
min-height: 280px;
}
.snn-ad-container.snn-ad-sidebar {
min-height: 280px;
}
.entry-content p.wp-block-paragraph {
overflow-wrap: break-word;
}
@media (max-width: 921px) {
.snn-ad-container.snn-ad-sidebar {
min-height: 100px;
}
}
';
wp_register_style(
'snn-safe-display',
false,
array(),
'1.0.0'
);
wp_enqueue_style( 'snn-safe-display' );
wp_add_inline_style( 'snn-safe-display', $css );
}
}
SNN_Safe_Display_20261031::boot();
}
