3 Face Drug Trafficking Charges After Woman Found Dead After Overdose In Rhode Island Home

NORTH PROVIDENCE, RI — Three Rhode Island residents were arrested Wednesday after Rhode Island State Police said they were caught with more than 1,100 grams of heroin and fentanyl and left a woman to die who overdosed in a North Providence home.

State police said Nelson Reyes, 38, of Johnston, Noel Ignacio Moronta, 41, and Marien Solano, 36, both of Providence, all knew the woman likely died from a drug overdose and failed to report it to authorities. Authorities have not yet released the woman's identity.

All three defendants were charged with possession with intent to deliver (fentanyl, heroin), controlled substance conspiracy and failure to report a death with the intention to conceal a crime.

"I want to applaud our HIDTA (High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area) task force and our partners at the attorney general's office for their work in this investigation," Rhode Island State Police Col. Darnell S. Weaver said. "They work hard every day to take deadly drugs off the street, and these arrests make our communities safer."

State police said the arrest happened after searching three homes, one in North Providence, another in Johnston, and another on Metcalf Avenue in North Providence, where the woman died. The searches were part of a month-long drug trafficking investigation, according to state police.

State police said after searching the three homes, they seized 908 grams of heroin, 229 grams of fentanyl, kilogram presses, stamps and molds, digital scales and drug packaging materials, and $82,550in cash.

The three defendants were all arraigned Wednesday in Sixth Division District Court and were ordered held without bail.