State Police Arrest Father & Son Team on Drug/ Weapons Charges

COVENTRY, RI—A father-son team was arrested Wednesday on charges they allegedly imported MDMA, which is a similar to the popular party drug "Ecstasy" or "Molly" from other countries for widespread distribution and sale throughout Rhode Island, state police said.

Gary Graham, 59, of Coventry, was arrested on charges of conspiracy to possess and deliver a controlled substance; two counts of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance (MDMA); possession of a controlled substance (MDMA); seven counts of possession of a firearm while committing a controlled substance violation; seven counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; possession of a machine gun; possession of a silencer; and three counts of possession of body armor.

His son, Justin M. Graham, 29, of West Greenwich, was charged with conspiracy to possess and distribute a controlled substance; two counts of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance (MDMA); possession of a controlled substance (MDMA); seven counts of possession of a firearm while committing a controlled substance violation; seven counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; possession of a machine gun; possession of a silencer; there counts of possession of body armor; simple possession of child pornography. He also was arrested on a warrant from Rhode Island State Police charging him with conspiracy to possess and deliver a controlled substance; soliciting another to commit a crime; possession with intent to deliver (MDMA); and possession of controlled substance (MDMA).

Both men were arrested after police raided their homes at about 1 p.m. Wednesday. The police had obtained court-authorized search warrants.

They are being held without bail at the Adult Correctional Institutions, pending arraignment in District Court tomorrow, State Police Lt. Peter Chabot said.

Investigators seized approximately 245 grams of Molly (also known as Ecstasy) with a street value between $40,000 and $50,000, according to Lieutenant Chabot.

Investigators also seized seven guns, including a fully automatic M-4 assault rifle, a silencer and three (3) body armor vests.

Police maintain both suspects are prohibited from possessing firearms and body armor, due to their criminal records. Gary Graham has a prior conviction for the charge of bank robbery, while Justin Graham has been arrested for previous drug violations.

Possession of a silencer is illegal under Rhode Island General Law, police also said.

The arrests followed a six-month investigation by members of the Rhode Island State Police High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Unit (HIDTA), the U.S. Postal Inspector's Office and the federal Office of Homeland Security. The investigation revealed that the two men were allegedly importing the illegal drugs from other countries and distributing them throughout Rhode Island.