Woonsocket Man Sentenced To 5 Years On Crack Cocaine Charge

WOONSOCKET, RI — A Woonsocket man was sentenced to five years in federal prison after pleading guilty to brokering the distribution of more than 28 grams of crack cocaine. Christian Nieves, 34, was one of a dozen people was arrested in July 2019 as part of a four-month FBI Safe Streets Task Force Project Safe Neighborhoods investigation into the trafficking of fentanyl, cocaine and crack cocaine in Woonsocket.

The U.S. Attorney's Office of RI said Nieves admitted in court in October that in April he arranged for someone to purchase more than 34 grams of crack cocaine from David Kennedy, 29, formerly of Woonsocket. Nieves told the court he was present for each transaction and that he was paid a fee for his efforts. He pleaded guilty on Oct. 1 to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to sell more than 28 grams of cocaine.

U.S. District Court Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr. on Thursday sentenced Nieves to 60 months in prison with four more years of supervised release.

Kennedy pleaded guilty on Oct. 1 of the same charge. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 20.

Project Safe Neighborhoods is an evidence-based program that focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.