Four sentenced for RI cocaine shipments

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) -- Four Providence men have been sentenced, and a Newport man is awaiting trial, in connection with illegal drug shipments sent to Rhode Island through the U.S. Postal Service.

Prosecutors say numerous packages containing a total of nearly 14 kilos of cocaine were intercepted by postal workers over the last couple of years.

Most of the packages originated in Puerto Rico; others came from California.

The investigation has led to five arrests on federal drug trafficking charges. 

On Thursday, 33-year-old Jamal Boleman of Providence became the latest person sentenced in connection with the crime.  He was given 84 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release. 

Boleman pleaded guilty in connection to two packages of cocaine that were shipped from California to Pawtucket in 2011.

Three other men were previously sentenced after pleading guilty to arranging drug shipments in the mail: 44-year-old Alexi Ruiz of Providence was given 84 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release; 39-year-old Luis Camilo was sentenced to 60 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release; and 40-year-old Jorge Antonio Falcon-Ortiz of Providence received a sentence of 78 months in prison followed by four years of supervised release.

Another suspect is awaiting trial.  34-year-old Michael Capurso of Newport was arrested last August after prosecutors say a package containing 2.5 kilos of cocaine was delivered to his home.  He has pleaded not guilty to federal drug charges.

Rhode Island U.S. Attorney Peter Neronha says several other shipments of illegal narcotics through the U.S. Postal Service remain under investigation.