Cranston Man Receives 15-Year Sentence For Trafficking Fentanyl, Meth, MDMA, Cocaine

CRANSTON, RI — A Cranston man was sentenced Thursday to 15 years in prison at the Rhode Island Adult Correctional Institutions after admitting to gun charges and possessing large amounts of methamphetamine, fentanyl, MDMA, and cocaine.

At a court hearing on Thursday, Manuel Coradin, 43, pleaded nolo contendere to possession of an ounce to one kilogram of cocaine, possession of over a kilogram of methamphetamine, possession with intent to deliver cocaine, fentanyl, and methamphetamine, possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, and possession of a large capacity feeding device.

"We know that it is drug dealers that are driving the rampant — and deadly — abuse of illicit drugs in our communities, and our office is committed to stopping it," Attorney General Peter Neronha. "And not only was the defendant trafficking large quantities of these dangerous drugs, he also possessed an illegal firearm with a large-capacity magazine — a deadly recipe for violent crime. I commend the efforts of the Rhode Island State Police, the Cranston police, and the prosecutors in our office for their work in this case and in so many others."

Had the case proceeded to trial, prosecutors said they were prepared to prove that between November and December 2022, Coradin trafficked drugs out of his Cranston apartment.

In November 2022, state police and Cranston police began investigating suspected methamphetamine and MDMA trafficking by Coradin from his apartment on Ryder Avenue. Investigators said they began surveillance of Coradin and made purchases in November and December 2022.

On Dec. 21, 2022, authorities arrested Coradin and searched hi apartment. Prosecutors said police seized:

• About 3.45 kilograms of assorted methamphetamine/MDMA pills
• 25.6 grams of fentanyl pills
• 265 grams of cocaine
• A digital scale, bagging material, and cutting agent
• One Taurus G3 9 mm semi-automatic handgun equipped with a 16-round magazine
• $13,260 in cash.

Prosecutors said Coradin is also on federal probation for possession with intent to distribute cocaine/cocaine base, conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine base, and aiding and abetting to possess with intent to distribute cocaine base.

"Our office is committed to targeting and removing deadly drugs and firearms from our city streets, and today’s announcement means our community is safer today than it was yesterday," Cranston Police Chief Michael Winquist said. "I thank the efforts of the Cranston police, the Rhode Island State Police, and the office of the attorney general for their efforts in ridding our city of these dangerous elements."

At the hearing before Superior Court Magistrate John McBurney III, the court sentenced Coradin to 25 years, with 15 years to serve at the ACI in Cranston and a 10-year suspended sentence with 25 years of probation.