Providence Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Firearm and Drug Trafficking Charges
While at the ACI, the Defendant Arranged To Continue His Drug Trafficking Business and Attempted To Arrange the Sale of a Firearm He Was Prohibited From Possessing
PROVIDENCE, R.I. — A Providence man admitted to a federal judge today that in February 2021, while he was detained at the Adult Correctional Institutions (ACI) on unrelated charges, he arranged by telephone with his then girlfriend to locate and sell a firearm that he illegally possessed and took steps to continue running his established drug trafficking business.
Ronald M. Kramer, 39, admitted that while confined at the ACI, another inmate told him about an individual outside of the prison who might be interested in purchasing a firearm Kramer was trying to get rid of. Kramer provided his girlfriend with that information, who then contacted and arranged to meet with the person to sell him the firearm. At that meeting, Kramer’s girlfriend also discussed and arranged to sell the gun buyer methamphetamine pills. Subsequently, she made at least two deliveries of pills to the buyer, totaling more than 244 grams. The person who took possession of the firearm and the drugs was, in fact, a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) undercover agent.
On April 1, 2021, law enforcement agents executed a search warrant on the girlfriend’s apartment. During the search agents located a safe containing $10,790 in cash which were proceeds of the sale of methamphetamine.
Kramer pleaded guilty today charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, announced U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Zechariah Chafee.
The matter was investigated by ATF, with the assistance of the Providence Police Department.
U.S. Attorney Cunha thanks the Rhode Island Department of Corrections, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Marshals Service, Rhode Island State Police, and the Pawtucket, Providence, Cranston, and North Providence Police Departments for their assistance in the investigation of this case.
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