Police Log

Daniel Kittredge
Posted 9/24/15

Gang associate pleads guilty to drug, weapons charges; murder case pending

A local gang associate pleaded guilty to drug and weapons charges in federal court last week, while murder and weapons …

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Gang associate pleads guilty to drug, weapons charges; murder case pending

A local gang associate pleaded guilty to drug and weapons charges in federal court last week, while murder and weapons charges against him remain pending in Rhode Island.

Antonio Fortes, 25, of Cranston, entered the plea to counts of trafficking in heroin and cocaine and being a felon in possession of a firearm, according to a joint release from U.S. Attorney Peter F. Neronha and Daniel J. Kumor, special agent in charge of the ATF’s Boston Field Division. His sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 3.

Fortes faces multiple charges for his alleged role in the Oct. 22, 2014, shooting in Providence that resulted in the death of Terry Robinson. He is charged with one count of murder, three counts of discharge of a firearm while in the commission of a crime of violence, two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, two counts of carrying a firearm without a license, and one count of conspiracy.

According to the release from Neronha and Kumor, “an investigation by ATF agents into Fortes’ drug trafficking activities included controlled purchases of crack cocaine and repeated surveillance by law enforcement. The investigation culminated with the execution of a court authorized federal search warrant on March 24, 2015, at Fortes’ Cranston residence. The search resulted in the seizure of numerous packets of heroin, crack cocaine and a loaded .45 caliber handgun.”

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Milind M. Shah and William J. Ferland. Cranston, Pawtucket and Providence police assisted agents from ATF in the investigation of this matter.

Meth lab operator sentenced to 2 years in federal prison

One of the two men who pleaded guilty earlier this year to operating a meth lab at a Cranston housing complex has been sentenced to two years in federal prison.

Nicholas Selser, 33, of Cranston, was sentenced Sept. 18, according to a joint release from the U.S. Attorney’s office, the Cranston Police Department, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. He will additionally serve three years of supervised release following his prison term.

Sentencing for Selser’s co-defendant, 48-year-old Michael Fortes of Cranston, is slated for Oct. 29.

Both men pleaded guilty in July to charges of conspiracy, knowingly manufacturing methamphetamine, possession of pseudoephedrine with the intent to manufacture methamphetamine, and possessing equipment to manufacture methamphetamine.

They were arrested in February after Cranston police, the Rhode Island DEA Drug Task Force and a DEA Clandestine Laboratory Enforcement Team executed a search warrant at the men’s apartment in the D’Evan Manor housing complex on Cranston Street.

Law enforcement personnel found evidence methamphetamine had been manufactured in the apartment on approximately 11 previous occasions, with the “one pot” – or “shake and bake” – method having been utilized. Authorities have described that process as “simple but potentially dangerous,” given that it can cause fires or explosions.

D’Evan Manor is densely populated and houses a large number of elderly residents.

Police: Coventry man charged with stabbing Providence detective

A Coventry man has been charged in the stabbing of a Providence police detective in Cranston.

Richard Morrissey, 48, of 11 David St., was held overnight Sept. 16 at Cranston Police Department headquarters after being treated for minor injuries at Rhode Island Hospital. He was due to be arraigned last week in Third District Court.

According to a release from Cranston police, officers responded to reports of a physical confrontation at the Riverbend Apartment Complex at 575 Dyer Ave., Building F106 shortly before noon last Wednesday. While Cranston personnel were en route, a second call came in advising that Providence police officers were attempting to take a suspect into custody at the same location.

Upon arrival, Cranston officers found their Providence counterparts had detained the suspect.

“It was later learned that Providence police detectives had recognized the individual inside the apartment as a suspect in a stabbing that occurred in their city the previous evening,” the release states. “While detectives were speaking with the subject, he retrieved a large kitchen knife from under a cushion of a couch where he was seated. Despite detectives providing verbal commands ordering the suspect to drop the knife, he refused. A physical confrontation then ensued as the detectives attempted to disarm the suspect, causing one of the detectives to receive a laceration on his hand.”

Cranston Fire Department personnel treated the injured Providence detective at the scene.

“Incidents such as the one that occurred today, represents the dangers police officers face every day performing their duties,” Cranston Chief of Police Col. Michael Winquist states in the release. 

“I commend the Providence police detectives who used their instincts and training to quickly disarm a convicted felon believed to be responsible for a violent attack the previous evening.”

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  • Wuggly

    Mr Fortes is a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. All the other charges aside Federal Law gives him ten years for the firearm and five years for ammunition. Let's start with fifteen years and then work on the rest of the charges.

    Police are doing their jobs, it seems to be the court system that is failing the good citizens. Two years for a meth lab in a section 8 apartment housing complex. Thats it? Endangering how many people? You want to put this back on our streets in 2 years?

    Thursday, September 24, 2015 Report this