Two East Providence Residents Indicted After State Police Drug Investigation

Two East Providence men were among a group of 18 people indicted Monday on drug charges after a six-month investigation by the Rhode Island State Police. The Providence County Grand Jury handed out the indictments today, according to a press release from the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office.

The 18 were charged with varying criminal offenses, including possession of up to a kilo of cocaine, delivery of cocaine, possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, possession of cocaine, and solicitation to commit a felony.

The state police received a court order to intercept communications relative to drug distribution. Police intercepted more than 1,100 calls and were able to identify more than a dozen people as customers in the alleged drug operation.

The investigation spanned multiple towns, including Providence and Warren, among other Rhode Island and Massachusetts communities.

The individuals charged will be arraigned in Providence County Superior Court on Aug. 29.

The indicted East Providence residents are:

• Edward Medeiros, 46, of 14 Cushman Ave., East Providence, RI; possession of cocaine and two counts of criminal solicitation.
• Marc Laforge, 49, of 6 Appian Way, East Providence, RI; criminal solicitation.