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Boston Globe
a day ago
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Judge rules Trump administration can't require states to help on immigration to get transport money
Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up On April 24, states received letters from the Department of Transportation stating that they must cooperate on immigration efforts or risk losing the congressionally appropriated funds. No funding was immediately withheld, but some of the states feared the move was imminent. Advertisement Attorneys general from California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington, Wisconsin and Vermont filed the lawsuit in May, saying the new so-called 'Duffy Directive' put them in an impossible position. Advertisement 'The States can either attempt to comply with an unlawful and unconstitutional condition that would surrender their sovereign control over their own law enforcement officers and reduce immigrants' willingness to report crimes and participate in public health programs — or they can forfeit tens of billions of dollars of funds they rely on regularly to support the roads, highways, railways, airways, ferries, and bridges that connect their communities and homes,' the attorneys general wrote in court documents. But acting Rhode Island U.S. Attorney Sara Miron Bloom told the judge that Congress has given the Department of Transportation the legal right to set conditions for the grant money it administers to states, and that requiring compliance and cooperation with federal law enforcement is a reasonable exercise of that discretion. Allowing the federal government to withhold the funds while the lawsuit moves forward doesn't cause any lasting harm, Bloom wrote in court documents, because that money can always be disbursed later if needed. But requiring the federal government to release the money to uncooperative states will likely make it impossible to recoup later, if the Department of Transportation wins the case, Bloom said.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Yahoo
Man who showed off illegal guns on Snapchat sentenced to prison
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — A Woonsocket man described as a 'violent machine-gun trafficker' who often flaunted his firearms collection on social media will spend more than 15 years in federal prison, acting U.S. Attorney Sara Miron Bloom announced Thursday. Jose Marrero, 36, was sentenced after pleading guilty to possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. Court documents refer to Marrero as an 'organized, experienced, and demanding drug trafficker' with 'palpable, inherent violence.' Prosecutors said Marrero made it clear to his drug-trafficking counterparts—and the world—that he had access to numerous firearms, including semi-automatic rifles, AR-15s, and guns modified with machine gun conversion devices. Marrero frequently posted incriminating photos and videos to social media, showing himself handling weapons while drinking, playing video games, watching TV, and driving. Some videos even depicted him and others firing the guns. Content from Marrero's Snapchat account, 'bangbanggomez69,' was cited as a key piece of evidence in the case. Disappearing messages, photos and videos are a major appeal for users of the platform. For that reason, ATF Special Agent Eric Mercer said Snapchat is particularly attractive to criminals. He explained that the platform's features make it ideal for keeping illegal activity under the radar. MORE: Snapchat posts put Woonsocket man in legal jeopardy Marrero wasn't just showing off—he had two prior drug-trafficking convictions in Rhode Island and had already served two years in prison. Because he was prohibited from owning firearms, prosecutors said he tasked his girlfriend and friends with purchasing them on his behalf. In early 2023, Marrero also began accepting firearms as payment for drugs, according to court documents. Federal investigators searched his Woonsocket apartment that November and seized several of the weapons he had displayed online. However, they noted that many of the guns in his collection still haven't been recovered. Court documents also show that Marrero conducted more than 200 internet searches for the word 'Glock.' Text messages described in the case depict his 'cavalier attitude' toward owning automatic weapons, a 'complete disregard' for the law, and an 'undeniable eagerness' to use the guns to support his drug business. After completing his 181-month prison sentence, Marrero will be on federal supervised release for five years. NEXT: Coventry man indicted on federal drug charges Download the and apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch or with the new . Follow us on social media: Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Yahoo
Man sentenced in one of RI's largest fentanyl busts
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — A Cranston man will spend two decades in federal prison following one of Rhode Island's largest fentanyl seizures, according to acting U.S. Attorney Sara Miron Bloom. Jorge Pimentel, 36, was sentenced Tuesday to 20 years behind bars followed by five years of supervised release for running what authorities described as a high-output drug lab and stash house. Prosecutors called Pimentel a 'well-established, large-scale fentanyl trafficker' who brokered the sale of approximately 34,000 counterfeit pills between May and September 2023, earning roughly $37,000. BACKGROUND: Cranston man pleads guilty to distributing 34K fentanyl-laced pills Pimentel was arrested on Sept. 29, 2023, after investigators searched a storage unit in Pawtucket, discovering more than 16 kilograms of fentanyl total—enough to kill the entire population of Rhode Island eight times over, based on data from the DEA and R.I. Department of Health. According to court documents, Pimentel 'produced his poison' inside the unit using blenders, sifters, and Red Solo cups to mix the drugs and press them into pills resembling pharmaceutical-grade Percocet or 'M-30s.' During the search, investigators uncovered more than 19,000 fentanyl-lace pills, nearly 9 kilograms of fentanyl powder, and various trafficking supplies—including respirator masks, 28,000 grams of cutting agent, and a high-speed industrial pill press valued at more than $10,000. WATCH | The Next Generation: Breaking Fentanyl's Grip Combined with the cutting agents found at the scene, prosecutors said Pimentel had the capacity to produce more than 633,000 fake pills. He sold the pills in bulk to other dealers for about $1.50 apiece, generating a 'significant profit,' according to court documents. Pimentel also employed a 'runner' to deliver the pills and clean the storage unit after production. His criminal history includes prior charges related to forgery, counterfeiting, and filing false statements connected to his work at his sister's now-shuttered Providence autobody shop. Despite denying drug or alcohol issues in a 2023 pretrial interview, court documents state Pimentel later claimed he used fentanyl and alcohol daily up until his arrest. In December, Pimentel pleaded guilty to a federal indictment charging him with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, as well as possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. No plea agreement was filed in the case. NEXT: Pawtucket man gets 40 years for causing woman's deadly overdose Download the and apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch or with the new . Follow us on social media: Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
