A Warwick man has admitted to trafficking fentanyl-laced pills disguised as Percocet. Preston Quintanilha, 23, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and attempt to possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. Acting United States Attorney Sara Miron Bloom announced the plea.
Quintanilha has been in federal custody since his arrest on May 28, 2024. He is set for sentencing on September 30, 2025. The sentence will be determined by a federal district judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Court documents reveal that in August 2023, during a joint investigation by federal and local law enforcement into Quintanilha’s drug trafficking activities, the DEA conducted two controlled purchases of fentanyl-laced pills from him.
On September 28, 2023, law enforcement executed several search warrants. They seized 999 fentanyl-laced pills (107.5 grams), suspected crack cocaine, and $5,830 in cash from Quintanilha’s residence; an additional 1,003 fentanyl-laced pills (109.9 grams) from a Pawtucket apartment used for storing narcotics; and $4,232 in cash from his person. Quintanilha admitted these were proceeds from drug trafficking.
Further developments occurred on April 16, 2024, when United States Postal Service employees intercepted a package addressed to Quintanilha at a relative’s residence. A certified K-9 dog detected narcotics odor in the package which contained 9,998 fentanyl-laced pills (1,085.8 grams). Quintanilha confessed he had it shipped under the pretense of being a gift for his girlfriend.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie White is prosecuting the case. The investigation involved the DEA along with police departments from Warwick and Pawtucket and the United States Postal Inspection Service.
