A Providence man pleaded guilty on Mar. 25 in federal court to a charge of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, according to United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda.
The case is significant as it stems from an investigation into narcotics trafficking by the FBI Safe Streets Task Force, which identified Charles Lassiter, 32, as being involved in distributing cocaine.
Court documents show that agents executed a court-authorized search warrant at Lassiter’s residence on December 7, 2023. During the search, they seized approximately 47 grams of cocaine.
Lassiter is scheduled for sentencing on June 25, 2026. The statutory maximum penalty for the charge is up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a maximum fine of $1 million. The final sentence will be determined by a federal district judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Stacey A. Erickson and Peter I. Roklan and investigated by the Rhode Island FBI Safe Streets Task Force. The task force includes agents and law enforcement officers from several agencies: the FBI; Rhode Island State Police; Cranston, Woonsocket, Pawtucket, West Warwick, and Central Falls Police Departments; U.S. Marshals Service; and Rhode Island Department of Corrections.
