Johnston Man Pleads Guilty: Trafficking Heroin

JOHNSTON, RI — Jack A. Hoogasian, 44, of Johnston, pleaded guilty in Providence federal court on Tuesday to narcotics offenses. He was charged with possession with the intent to distribute heroin and possession of a pill press. A pill press is used to produce counterfeit narcotics, in this case, oxycodone.

According to court documents, in May 2016, state police learned Hoogasian was selling counterfeit narcotics pills. He produced the pills with a pill press at his residence. On at least two occasions, the State Police Intelligence Unit arranged to buy narcotics from Hoogasian. Each transaction consisted of the purchase of multiple blue pills stamped A 215. Blue pills stamped A 215 are how the prescription drug oxycodone hydrochloride (30 mg.) is labeled for sale. The police sent the pills for analysis. The first batch tested positive for the presence of amphetamine, police said. Subsequent testing by a U.S. Food and Drug Administration Office of Criminal Investigations forensic specialist determined that the pills were counterfeit. The second batch of pills tested positive for the presence of heroin and amphetamine.

In May 2016 state police searched his house. They seized 22 blue pills stamped A 215, three large bags of powder, and a pill press machine. Forty-nine blue pills stamped A 215 were seized from a garage.

Sentencing is scheduled for August 11. Possession with the intent to distribute heroin is punishable by statutory penalties of up to 20 years in federal prison, a fine of up to $1,000,000 and a term of supervised release of 3 years to life. Possession of a pill press is punishable by statutory penalties of up to 1 year in federal prison, a fine of up to $1,000, and a term of supervised release of up to 1 year.

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