Providence Man Indicted, Accused Of Dealing Drugs In Newport

NEWPORT, RI—Newport police and Cranston police started investigating a 23-year-old Providence man last summer, the U.S. Attorney's Office said. Franklin Valenzuela, 23, was suspected of dealing fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, and crack cocaine. He was arrested in August in the parking lot of a Newport apartment complex. Police said he went there to deliver heroin.

A federal grand jury on Tuesday indicted Valenzuela on multiple counts of dealing narcotics, plus being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court papers, Cranston police and the Drug Task Force tailed him from his Providence home to Newport, where he was arrested on Aug. 31.

Police claimed at the time they found cash and "small bags of heroin" on him when they took him into custody. They also searched his Providence home, where they said they found $7,807 in cash, a gun and drugs.

He faces these charges: possession with intent to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine base; possession with intent to distribute heroin; possession with intent to distribute cocaine; possession with intent to distribute fentanyl; distribution of cocaine; distribution of fentanyl; and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Valenzuela is being held at the state prison as a probation violator. His next court date has not been set.

Photo used with permission of the Newport Police Department