Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Jose Gomez, 26, of Pawtucket, has been ordered detained in federal custody following an investigation into Gomez’s alleged trafficking of crack cocaine, including the alleged trading of firearms for crack cocaine, announced United States Attorney Peter F. Neronha and Daniel J. Kumor, Special Agent in Charge of the Boston Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

The investigation included three undercover purchases of crack cocaine allegedly from Gomez and a court authorized search of Gomez’s residence. Inside Gomez’s residence, law enforcement located a one-year-old child and a two-year-old child unattended in a bedroom where they also allegedly discovered approximately four grams of crack cocaine on a window sill.

Gomez is detained on a criminal complaint charging him with three counts of distribution of crack cocaine, one count of possession with the intent to distribute crack cocaine, one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

According to court documents and information presented to the court, it is alleged that on two occasions between August 31 and September 3, 2015, Gomez sold nearly three grams of crack cocaine for $200 in cash to an undercover ATF agent. Both transactions alleged occurred outside of Gomez’s Pawtucket residence.

According to court documents and information presented to the court, on September 8, 2015, the ATF undercover agent allegedly arranged with Gomez to trade two firearms for $200 in cash and a quantity of crack cocaine. The two met outside of Gomez’s residence two days later, and moments after Gomez allegedly exchanged $200 in cash and a plastic bag containing crack cocaine for the two firearms, a .380 caliber handgun and a 9mm handgun, agents detained Gomez.

According to information presented to the court, a court authorized search of Gomez’s residence moments after Gomez was detained allegedly resulted in the discovery of approximately four grams of crack cocaine on a digital scale stored on a window sill inside a bedroom where two unattended children, aged one and two, were located. The bedroom doorway was blocked to prevent the unattended children from leaving the room.

A criminal complaint is merely an allegation and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

ATF was assisted in the investigation of this matter by Pawtucket Police, Central Falls Police and the Special Investigations Unit of the Adult Correctional Institutions.