Providence Man Sentenced For Fentanyl, Cocaine Trafficking, Insurance Fraud

PROVIDENCE, RI — A Providence man was sentenced Monday to 13 years in state prion after admitting to fentanyl and cocaine trafficking and insurance fraud.

Attorney General Peter Neronha said the charges against Victor St. Hill, 49, stemmed from a 2019 Rhode Island State Police wiretap investigation called "Operation Heat." St. Hill pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, and conspiracy to commit fraud.

"Our office remains committed to rooting out violent crime and illicit drugs from its source — the violent criminals and drug traffickers that drive much of it in Rhode Island," Neronha said. "Today’s sentencing removes a dangerous defendant from the streets for a significant length of time. I am continually thankful for the efforts of the Rhode Island State Police and the prosecutors in our office for their work during the investigation and prosecution of this case."

Had the cases proceeded to trial, prosecutors said they were prepared to prove that in court-authorized wiretaps in May 2019, St. Hill conspired with Janssye Toucet, 35, of Providence, and another co-conspirator to commit insurance fraud.

Prosecutors said the conspiracy involved lying to an insurance company about the details of a car crash involving Toucet's BMW I8. When members of the state police executed a search warrant, they said they found the following in his car:

At a hearing on Monday before Superior Court Justice Robert Krause, the court sentenced St. Hill to 20 years, with 13 years to serve at the ACI in Cranston and a seven-year suspended sentence and 20 years of probation

"I am pleased to see ‘Operation Heat’ continue to successfully remove dangerous criminals and disrupt the flow of illegal narcotics within our state," State police Col. Darnell Weaver said. "I commend the detectives and prosecutors who worked diligently on this case, and I applaud their commitment to keeping our communities safe."

Operation Heat

“Operation Heat” was a multi-year investigation by the Rhode Island State Police High Intensity Drug Task Force. The operation included court-approved wiretaps and led to 21 arrests and the seizure of several firearms and drugs, including heroin, cocaine, and fentanyl.

As a result of the Operation, in November 2022, Janssye Toucet was sentenced to 15 years at the ACI after pleading to 22 felony counts stemming from his lead role in a gang-related drug trafficking operation and several connected shootings in Providence in 2019.

On Feb. 17, 2022, a co-defendant, Luis Munoz Mercado, was convicted of 30 felony counts stemming from his role in the drug trafficking operation and sentenced to serve nine years at the ACI.