Armed Crack Cocaine Dealer Sentenced to More Than 9 Years in Federal Prison

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Aaron Kwandranc, 29, of Woonsocket, was sentenced today to 110 months in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm and for distribution of crack cocaine, announced United States Attorney Peter F. Neronha, East Providence Police Chief Christopher J. Parella, Woonsocket Police Chief Thomas S. Carey and Daniel J. Kumor, Special Agent in Charge of the Boston field division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

At sentencing, U.S. District Court Judge John J. McConnell, Jr., also ordered Kwandranc to serve 3 years supervised release upon completion of his prison term. Kwandranc pleaded guilty on June 18, 2014, to one count each of being a felon in possession of a firearms and distribution of crack cocaine.

According to information presented to the court, in July 2011, an East Providence Police Department detective informed ATF that he had developed information that Kwandranc had offered to sell four firearms for $1,000 to an individual known to the detective. The detective had the individual arrange with Kwandranc to bring the firearms to the individual’s apartment and leave them there until he could obtain $1,000. East Providence Police watched as Kwandranc left the individual’s apartment, then went inside and retrieved from the basement a handgun and three shotguns.

According to information presented to the court, as the investigation progressed, the individual known to East Providence Police arranged to purchase 32 grams of crack cocaine from Kwandranc for $1,500. East Providence Police, Woonsocket Police and ATF established surveillance in the area of Kwandranc’s Woonsocket residence and then followed him and the individual assisting law enforcement to a second apartment in Woonsocket where law enforcement monitored conversations that indicated that inside the apartment Kwandranc was converting cocaine powder to crack cocaine. A short time later, the individual assisting law enforcement turned over to an ATF agent a packet containing more than 23 grams of crack cocaine he purchased from Kwandranc.

Kwandranc has been detained in federal custody since June 18, 2014.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Gerard B. Sullivan.