A Rhode Island man who pleaded guilty this week in federal court to possession and intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine and 100 grams of heroin is linked to nearly 900 grams of heroin seized from a Woonsocket, R.I., self-storage facility, according to investigators. When police arrested Miguel A. Colon, 55, they found keys to two self-storage units he rented. A subsequent search uncovered 895 grams of heroin and various items used to package and distribute drugs, according to the source.
Colon also admitted in U.S. District Court to being a felon in possession of a firearm and carrying a firearm during a drug-trafficking crime, according to the Rhode Island U.S. Attorney’s office.
Investigators tracked Colon using a court-approved GPS device on his cellphone. He used two vehicles during trips in which he drove to the Florida Panhandle through the South and into Texas before returning to Rhode Island, according to authorities. Investigators tracked him for about a week before stopping him in North Attleboro, Mass., the source reported.
During the traffic stop, police found a secret compartment in Colon’s SUV that contained three kilos of cocaine, a loaded .380-caliber semi-automatic pistol, two magazines of ammunition, 21 rounds of ammo and approximately a third of a pound of marijuana, according to court records.
Police obtained a search warrant after finding the keys to the self-storage units, according to the Rhode Island U.S. Attorney’s office. Investigators also raided Colon’s home, where they found more .380-caliber ammunition and drug ledgers with the names of known drug dealers in Woonsocket along with amounts of money listed next to their names. They also uncovered several small marijuana plants and a Rhode Island marijuana caregiver card issued to Colon, the source reported.
Colon has been in custody since his April arrest. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 14 by U.S. District Court Chief Judge William E. Smith.
