WPD, Feds ID Suspect Following School Shutdown

Woonsocket Police locked down several schools near Elm Street last week to apprehend Joshua Rojas, 19, suspected of intimidating a witness in a WPD-DEA investigation into trafficking of an illegal synthetic opiate, Fentanyl Acetyl.

Fentanyl Acetyl is a synthetic opiate with properties similar to morphine, according to Dara Chadwick, spokesperson at the RI Department of Health. The Medical Examiner's office has attributed the substance to 12 deaths between March and May of 2013.

The substance is formally known as acetanilide, n-1-phenethyl-4-piperidyl, a chemical variant, or "analog" of fentanyl. It can be referred to as acetyl fentanyl or fentanyl acetyl analog. The drug is not FDA approved or commercially available, and is not prescribed by physicians.  

Eleven patients appear to have died with the substance in their bodies between March and mid-April, according to the Department of Health. A twelfth death due to the substance was confirmed May 16. Most of the patients were from the northern Rhode Island area, and appear to have been intravenous drug users, according to a release from the Department of Health.

"The risk of overdose is very real for individuals addicted to opioids," said Craig Stenning, director of the Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals. "We continue to urge individuals with substance use disorders to seek the support and treatment they need to recover."

Woonsocket High School, Woonsocket Middle School, Pothier Elementary and Citizens Memorial School were locked down for about 30 minutes Monday, June 3 at about 1:27 p.m. as local officers cooperated with DEA agents to locate Rojas. Woonsocket Police Det. Jamie Paone said officers arrested him at the corner of Elm Street and Rutland Street.

Rojas, a.k.a. Joshua Ramos, of Woonsocket, and Victor Burgos, a.k.a. Fat Boy, 20, of Providence, have been charged in federal court in Providence with witness tampering in the investigation, initiated by the Woonsocket Police Department as early as the first week of May, said Jim Martin, public information officer for United States Attorney Peter F. Neronha.

Burgos has also been charged with one count each of possession with the intent to distribute Fentanyl Acetyl analogue and distribution of Fentanyl Acetyl analogue.

In court, Neronha's office alleged that Rojas and Burgos took threatening actions and made threatening remarks in an effort to intimidate a person cooperating with law enforcement in the investigation.

Burgos, who has been detained for violating terms of his release on a federal criminal complaint issued on May 17, 2013 charging him with distribution and possession with the intent to distribute Fentanyl Acetyl analogue, was charged by way of a federal grand jury indictment returned on June 5, with one count each of use of threat of physical force against a person with the intent to influence, delay or prevent the testimony any person in an official proceeding; distribution of Fentanyl Acetyl analogue; and possession with the intent to distribute Fentanyl Acetyl analogue.

Burgos is scheduled to be arraigned on June 11, 2013. If convicted, Burgos faces a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison on each charge.

Rojas was charged by way of a federal criminal complaint on June 4, 2013, with one count of intentionally harassing another person and thereby attempting to hinder, delay, prevent or dissuade any person from attending or testifying in an official proceeding. He was ordered detained following an initial appearance before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Patricia A. Sullivan.

If convicted, Rojas faces a maximum sentence of up to 3 years in federal prison. 

The charges were announced by Neronha, Woonsocket Police Chief Thomas S. Carey and John J. Arvanitis, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA’s New England Field Division.