Police: 16 Arrested, Local Pawn Shop was a Fencing Operation

A local pawn shop was being used as a fencing operation to trade in stolen goods, according to Cranston police, and 16 people — 14 adults and 2 juveniles — are now facing an assortment of charges.

Police said they’ve seized more than 200 items valued at nearly $24,000 as a result of the investigation, which began in December.

A Cranston police patrol officer developed information that Cranston Gold and More at 703 Park Avenue was being used to facilitate the purchase and sale of stolen goods.

Cranston Police Chief Col. Michael J. Winquist said detectives were able to infiltrate ”this illicit operation and monitor numerous transactions of stolen goods by individuals frequenting the establishment.”

Detectives also were able to connect larcenies that occurred in Warwick and West Warwick with Cranston Gold and More, which “resulted in them solving several crimes of residential breaking and entering larcenies that had occurred in their respective jurisdictions,” Winquist said.

“I commend the efforts of all of the investigators who worked diligently on this case over the past two months. By dismantling this operation and making these arrests, the residents of Cranston will be less apt to become victims of individuals who profit from property crime and have total disregard for the security and safety we should all be able to enjoy in our homes,” Winquist said. “I am hopeful that we will be able to return additional items to the rightful owners. These items have not only monetary value, but in some instances sentimental value.”

State Police Superintendent Col. Steven G. O’Donnell said “the collaboration between the Rhode Island State Police and Cranston Police Department is a major reason for the success of this investigation. I commend the leadership of Colonel Winquist for his pro-active strategy in bringing all the defendants to justice.”

The Cranston Police Department is still attempting to identify a large amount of seized property believed to be stolen. Photographs of these items have been placed on the Cranston Police Official Website (http://www.cranstonpoliceri.com) and the Cranston Police Department’s Facebook page.

It is requested that the public logon to view the photographs of the merchandise and if they are able to identify the items as their property, to contact the Cranston Police investigative hotline at 401-477-5056. Anyone claiming ownership of any of the items should be prepared to provide receipts or other forms of ownership, as well as a police report documenting the original theft.

The following people were arrested and charged as a result of the investigation:

Anayimi Ayeni, age 19, 102 Orchard Street, Cranston, Rhode Island

· Receiving Stolen Goods

· Possession of Marijuana less than One Ounce

Daniel Bateson, age 24, 94 Interval Road, Cranston, Rhode Island

· Third District Court Bench Warrant

Brian Beagan, age 33, 15 Walnut Street, West Warwick, Rhode Island

· Breaking and Entering (4 counts – 1 Cranston, 2 Warwick, 1 West Warwick)

· Receiving Stolen Goods (3 counts)

· Possession of a Controlled Substance

· Driving on a Suspended License

· Third District Court Bench Warrant

Edward Cabral, age 25, 1303 Elmwood Avenue, Cranston, Rhode Island

· Shoplifting

· Receiving Stolen Goods

Nicole DeOliveira, age 28, 26 Back River Road, Amesbury, Massachusetts

· Shoplifting (3 counts)

· Receiving Stolen Goods (2 counts)

· Conspiracy – Shoplifting

· Conspiracy – Receiving Stolen Goods

Darren Martin, age 47, 2 Loring Avenue, Salem, Massachusetts

· Possession of a Controlled Substance

Eric Menard, age 30, 150 Lewiston Street, Warwick, Rhode Island

· Shoplifting

· Obtaining Money Under False Pretense

Matthew Morotto, age 36, 20 Asia St, Cranston, Rhode Island

· Receiving Stolen Goods

George Regnaiere, age 34, 1619 Main Street, Apt 2, West Warwick, RI

· Shoplifting

· Conspiracy – Receiving Stolen Goods

Jonathan Roch, age 32, 40 Liena Rose Way, Coventry, Rhode Island

· Felony Shoplifting (2 counts)

· Receiving Stolen Goods (2 counts)

· Conspiracy – Shoplifting

James Rossi, age 35, 1619 Main Street, Apt 2, West Warwick, Rhode Island

· Receiving Stolen Goods (2 Counts)

· Possession of a Controlled Substance (5 counts)

Christopher Roy, age 34, 104 Laurens Street, Cranston, Rhode Island

· Receiving Stolen Goods

Jordan Warner, age 18, of 141 Orchard Street, Cranston, Rhode Island

· Larceny

· Conspiracy – Larceny

Justin Bernard, age 20, of La Vaughn St, Providence, Rhode Island

· Receiving Stolen Goods

Two Juvenile Suspects

· Larceny (6 counts)

· Receiving Stolen Goods