Mob figure arrested on charge of conspiracy to distribute cocaine
Federal prosecutors accused Matthew Guglielmetti Jr., 56, in U.S. District Court Thursday of agreeing to protect a major shipment of cocaine that was passing through Rhode Island en route to Canada.
If convicted, Guglielmetti faces 10 years to life in prison.
U.S. Magistrate David Martin ordered Guglielmetti held without bail at the Wyatt Detention Center in Central Falls, and scheduled a preliminary hearing for next Friday.
Guglielmetti has been a prominent figure in Rhode Island organized crime for decades. In 1991, he pleaded guilty to one count of racketeering and was sentenced to 57 months in prison. Federal prosecutors at the time described him as a capo regime -- captain -- in the Patriarca crime family.
According to an FBI affidavit, Guglielmetti's arrest followed a scheme hatched because the mobster needed cash for Christmas.
Last November, the affidavit said, Guglielmetti met the undercover agent in Johnston and "indicated a need to make some money prior to Christmas."
Guglielmetti and the agent discussed Guglielmetti arranging protection for a large shipment of cocaine that would go through Rhode Island on its way to Canada. They also discussed the possibility of laundering the proceeds once the cocaine was distributed.
On Dec. 6, Guglielmetti met with the agent again and agreed to a payment of $1,000 per kilo for "babysitting" 67 kilos of cocaine. They also discussed laundering at least half the proceeds once the cocaine was sold in Canada.
The affidavit said the conversations were recorded on audiotape and sometimes also on videotape, reported The Providence Journal.
The cocaine shipment was due in Rhode Island this week, and would be kept at a hotel, the affidavit said.
Shortly after 6 p.m. Tuesday, Guglielmetti's two associates arrived at the designated hotel room. Two undercover policemen were there with the cocaine in suitcases. The four men remained there for about five hours, during which time two more undercover agents came and took 18 kilos of cocaine, purportedly for distribution in Central Falls.
On Thursday morning, Guglielmetti met with the original undercover agent to receive his payment, but was arrested instead.
According to the affidavit, the arrest stemmed from a larger investigation in which an undercover agent posed as a businessman operating a business with Guglielmetti, who was a silent partner.
Authorities declined comment on the
ongoing investigation. But hours after
Guglielmetti's arrest, FBI agents and Rhode
Island State Police detectives raided the
offices of the Laborers' International Union
in Providence and Capital City Concrete in
Cranston, which has employed the mobster and
uses union employees. 