East Providence Police Received $450,000 For Work on Forfeiture Case

The East Providence police department is one of four law enforcement agencies in Rhode Island to benefit from $4.5 million seized in the prosecution of a Chinese drug manufacturer.

The agencies received between $270,000 and $900,000 for their roles in the prosecution of the company, according to a news release from U.S. Attorney Peter F. Neronha.

The proceeds came from assets seized as part of the prosecution of Genescience Pharmaceutical Co. and its CEO for marketing human growth hormone illegally in the United States, according to the release. 

“I am pleased that this ground-breaking federal prosecution, which was a success on so many levels, has resulted in the distribution of such significant, forfeited amounts to state and local law enforcement agencies in Rhode Island," Neronha said in the release. "The defendants paid directly for their misconduct through the forfeiture of these assets, which will deter them and others from engaging in this type of misconduct.”

The money has to be used for law enforcement resources, and East Providence police chief Joseph Tavares has said that he would like to . 

Tavares said Wednesday he plans to go before the City Council to request that $367,000 of that money be used to buy 12 vehicles for the department.

"We stretched as much as we could out of our vehicles," he said. 

Police plan to recycle some equipment that is in good condition from the older vehicles, Tavares said.