Cranston Man Receives 5-Year Sentence For Trafficking Cocaine In Portsmouth

CRANSTON, RI — A Cranston man was sentenced to five years in prison Friday after pleading to cocaine trafficking charges, Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha said.

Last week, Francisco Vazquez Ramos, 39, pleaded nolo contendere to possession with intent to deliver an ounce to a kilogram of cocaine and conspiracy to possess with intent to deliver an ounce to a kilogram of cocaine.

Had the case proceeded to trial, state prosecutors said they were prepared to prove Ramos, along with two co-conspirators, distributed cocaine in Portsmouth. In April 2023, an undercover police officer bought cocaine from Ramos, prosecutors said. Investigators stored the cocaine as evidence and on April 26, got a warrant to search him.

On April 27, prosecutors said police saw Ramos meeting with a cocaine supplier. After Ramos met with the supplier, he told an undercover officer he obtained a lot of cocaine to sell, prosecutors said.

Members of DEA and the Portsmouth Police Department then conducted a traffic stop in Portsmouth and arrested Ramos and two co-defendants, Sergio Ricard, 35, and Nictsa Garcia, 49. Prosecutors said police seized 310 grams of cocaine from the vehicle.

Following Ramos' prison sentence, he must serve 15 years of probation.