Pawtucket Mailman Abduction Case Heats Up With Drug Indictments

PROVIDENCE, RI — U.S. Postal Inspection Service agents, along with state and city police, continue to investigate the alleged drug-related kidnapping of a postal carrier in Pawtucket.

Federal prosecutors say that on June 1, a mailman was abducted at gunpoint and forced into a Chrysler 300 outside a Division Street apartment complex. Eventually, he was let go.

A federal grand jury in Providence today formally accused three men linked to the kidnapping with conspiracy to possess and distribute large amounts of cocaine that was shipped through the U.S. mail, Acting United States Attorney Richard B. Myrus announced.

Live in Pawtucket? Click here to subscribe to breaking news alerts delivered to your inbox and mobile devices. You can also download our Patch mobile app on Android or iPhone.

The Postal Service employee said he was driven by two masked men to his home. The abductors seemed to believe that the the carrier had made off with the contents of an empty package. After the abductors learned the mail carrier did not have a key to his home on his person, he was returned unharmed to his mail truck, the man told police.

Investigators identified the vehicle allegedly used in the kidnapping and its owner as Edgar Medina, 37, of Johnston.

Postal investigators learned of several packages that had been shipped from fictitious addresses in Puerto Rico to real addresses in Pawtucket, Cranston, Johnston, and Providence. Some of those addresses were associated with Medina, Myrus said.

Myrus said federal agents intercepted three packages that a Rhode Island State Police K-9 had flagged for narcotics. Court-authorized searches revealed more than three kilograms of cocaine inside the packages. Controlled deliveries of the packages were set up on June 8 under surveillance by state and federal agents. As the packages were delivered, Medina, Andres Garay, 34, of Providence, and Ronald Hall, 38, of Providence, were arrested.

Court-authorized searches of cars and homes linked to the defendants revealed masks and a winter hat fitting the description of items worn by the alleged kidnappers, as well as batons, brass knuckles, and a Taser, Myrus said.

A grand jury today charged Medina, Andres, and Garay with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, and possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine. The three have been detained in federal custody since their arrest.

The three suspects have extensive criminal records.