Providence Reporter

A Providence man who admitted to a federal judge that he made multiple purchases of cocaine, which he later transformed into crack and sold, has been sentenced to six years in federal prison, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.

Juan Gonzalez, 46, pleaded guilty on January 25, 2024, to a charge of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine. He was sentenced on Tuesday by U.S. District Court Judge Mary S. McElroy to 72 months of incarceration followed by four years of federal supervised release.

According to charging documents and information presented to the court, in early 2021, the FBI Safe Streets Task Force launched an investigation into the alleged drug trafficking activities of William Mendez, 49, of Providence. The investigation included court-authorized interception of electronic communications over multiple telephones allegedly used by Mendez.

According to charging documents, it is alleged that during monitored telephone calls, Mendez revealed to Gonzalez that on July 13, 2021, he took possession of between 500 and 1,000 grams of cocaine, some of which was subsequently sold to Gonzalez. The investigation further revealed that between July 13 and August 12, 2021, Gonzalez made repeated purchases of cocaine from Mendez that he then processed and sold as crack cocaine.

William Mendez is currently detained in federal custody awaiting trial. He is charged by indictment with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine and conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute forty grams or more of fentanyl. A federal indictment is merely an accusation; a defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stacey A. Erickson.

The matter was investigated by the FBI Safe Streets Task Force, consisting of agents and law enforcement officers from the FBI; Rhode Island State Police; Cranston Police Department; Woonsocket Police Department; Pawtucket Police Department; West Warwick Police Department; Central Falls Police Department; and the U.S. Marshals Service.