FEDERAL JURY CONVICTS CAREER CRIMINAL FOR TRAFFICKING CRACK COCAINE
PROVIDENCE, R.I.– A federal court jury in Providence on Wednesday convicted Rolando A. Rojas, 33, of Providence, with selling crack cocaine on three occasions to an undercover federal agent, announced United States Attorney Peter F. Neronha and Guy N. Thomas, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF Boston Field Office.
The government's evidence showed that Rojas sold an undercover ATF agent nearly 28 grams of crack cocaine on January 10, 2011; two ounces of crack cocaine on February 17, 2011; and approximately four ounces of crack cocaine on March 1, 2011. All of the transactions were electronically recorded. The jury convicted Rojas on one count of distribution of cocaine base and two counts of distribution of 28 grams or more of cocaine base.
Rojas, a career criminal who was previously convicted on drug trafficking, firearms, felony assault and robbery charges, faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 10 years and up to life in federal prison when he is sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge John J. McConnell, Jr. on October 9, 2012. Rojas has been detained since his arrest.
State charges are also pending against Rojas for the October 2010 murder of Alfredo Barros, 20, of Pawtucket, who was shot while he sat in a vehicle stopped at a red light.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard W. Rose.
Providence Police and Central Falls Police assisted ATF in the investigation of this matter.
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