Indicted: Alleged Cranston Stash House Operator

CRANSTON, RI — Marcio Alexandro Martinez-Lara, 42, of Providence, will face firearms and drug trafficking charges, the U.S. Attorney's office said. He is a Dominican national previously convicted and incarcerated in federal and state prisons on drug trafficking charges. On Thursday, he was named in a 15-count federal indictment charging him with trafficking fentanyl, heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine; and being an alien in possession of a firearm, a felon in possession of a firearm and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, the office said.

Specifically, the indictment is charging him, with one count each of possession with the intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and possession with the intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl; 5 counts of distribution of fentanyl; one count of possession with intent to distribute a kilogram or more of heroin; one count each of possession with the intent to distribute cocaine and distribution of cocaine; and one count each of possession with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, alien in possession of a firearm, felon in possession of a firearm, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.

Lara has been in federal custody members of the Rhode Island DEA Drug Task Force arrested him on July 19.

"The arrest came after numerous alleged controlled purchases of fentanyl, heroin and cocaine from Martinez-Lara while he was under law enforcement surveillance, and the execution on July 19 of court authorized searches of his residence and business in Providence, a drug stash house he allegedly operated in Cranston, and of two vehicles allegedly in his control," the authorities said.

Martinez-Lara was taken into custody outside the alleged stash house in Cranston. Police allege they found nearly 103 grams of fentanyl hidden inside his clothes. He identified himself as Sandro Martinez, but his actual name is Marcio Alexandro Martinez-Lara.