North Providence Man Sentenced For Selling 7,000 Fentanyl-Laced Pills

NORTH PROVIDENCE, RI — A North Providence man, who sold more than 7,000 fentanyl-laced pills and a gun, while under FBI surveillance, was sentenced to six years in federal prison, U.S. Attorney Zachary Cunha said Thursday.

Keurys Pena, 35, was sentenced Tuesday after pleading guilty on Aug. 1 to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and possession of a firearm by a person convicted of a crime. Following his prison sentence, Pena must serve four years of federal probation.

On eight occasions between June and October 2022, Pena sold 7,080 fentanyl-laced pills — weighing about two pounds — while under FBI surveillance, prosecutors said. On Sept. 7, 2022, Pena also sold a gun, prosecutors said. The gun and drugs were quickly seized by law enforcement after each sale.

Pena was arrested at his North Providence home on Oct. 18, 2022. Prosecutors said FBI agents searched his home and seized 5.38 grams of cocaine, 11.89 grams of a powder mixture containing fentanyl, and 22.84 grams of a substance containing methamphetamine.

Court records show Pena was previously convicted and sentenced several times on drug, conspiracy, forgery, and breaking and entering charges. When Pena was arrested, he was on state probation for a 2015 conviction on charges of assault and escape by an inmate.

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