Police Digest

Posted 2/26/20

Two charged in connection with stabbing Two people are facing charges in connection with a Feb. 20 stabbing on Northup Street, according to Cranston Police. Ashley Brogno, 28, of West Warwick, was arrested after officers responded to the scene at

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Police Digest

Posted

Two charged in connection with stabbing

Two people are facing charges in connection with a Feb. 20 stabbing on Northup Street, according to Cranston Police.

Ashley Brogno, 28, of West Warwick, was arrested after officers responded to the scene at approximately 10:20 a.m., according to a statement from Chief of Police Col. Michael Winquist.

The second suspect, Brian E. Raymond, 31, of Cranston, fled on foot prior to the arrival of officers. He was taken into custody later that day.

The male victim of the stabbing was transported to Rhode Island Hospital to receive treatment for injuries that are not considered life threatening, according to Winquist’s statement.

Brogno was arraigned Feb. 21 on charges of assault with a dangerous weapon and obstructing an officer in the execution of duty. She was ordered held on $10,000 bond with surety with a next scheduled court date of May 15.

Raymond was arraigned Feb. 21 on charges of domestic assault with a dangerous weapon and resisting arrest. He was also ordered held on $10,000 bond with surety with a next scheduled court date of March 5.

Man sentenced for drug trafficking at ACI

A Cranston man who authorities say delivered crack cocaine as part of a trafficking conspiracy orchestrated by an inmate at the Adult Correctional Institutions has been sentenced to five years in prison, according to the office of U.S. Attorney Aaron L. Weisman.

Gerald Price, 34, pleaded guilty to drug possession and distribution charges in November 2019. Under the conditions of the sentence issued Monday by U.S. District Court Chief Judge John J. McConnell Jr., he will serve four years of supervised release following his 60-month prison term.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s office, Price has been “previously convicted and incarcerated on several occasions on drug and firearm charges.”

Authorities say Price, at the direction of 30-year-old ACI inmate James Gomes, delivered crack cocaine to a customer of Gomes who was not incarcerated at the prison. Gomes’ mother, 51-year-old-Lisa Ellis, is said to have coordinated the deal during a conference call in June 2018.

“During the 3-way conference call, Gomes advised Price that he had a buyer who wanted to buy crack cocaine,” a press release from Weisman’s office reads. “Price agreed to deliver the drugs on Gomes’ behalf and, at Gomes’ direction, provide the proceeds from the sale to Gomes’ mother.”

Price is said to have then arranged to meet with the buyer – who was, in fact, an undercover law enforcement officer – in Providence. During that meeting, Price is said to have sold the buyer more than 30 grams of cocaine for $1,920.

“Some of the proceeds from the sale of the drugs were allegedly provided to Ellis, who, after allegedly taking her share, deposited the remainder of the money in Gomes’ prison account,” the press release reads.

Authorities say Gomes then asked Price to sell a gun to the same buyer. Price at first agreed but “ultimately objected because he suspected that the buyer was an undercover police officer,” the release reads.

Gomes pleaded guilty to multiple drug distribution charges in October 2019 and is scheduled to be sentenced March 19, according to Weisman’s office.

Another man who is said to have admitted to delivering drugs to customers at Gomes’ request, 29-year-old former Pawtucket resident Joshua Smith, received an identical sentence to Price in November 2019. He had pleaded guilty to multiple drug distribution charges in September 2019.

Ellis faces multiple drug distribution charges and is currently awaiting trial in U.S. District Court.

-- Daniel Kittredge

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