Скачать или смотреть Police Chief’s Nephew Gets 22.5 Years as Fentanyl Case Raises Corruption Questions in Rhode Island

A major federal drug case is reigniting scrutiny of law enforcement leadership in Rhode Island. Jasdrual “Josh” Perez has been sentenced to 22.5 years in prison after pleading guilty to running one of the largest fentanyl trafficking operations in the region, distributing millions of fake Oxycodone and Percocet pills across multiple states.

What’s drawing public outrage is his family connection: Perez is the nephew of Providence Police Chief Col. Oscar Perez and Sgt. Andres Perez, a drug intelligence officer. Federal investigators described Sgt. Perez as a possible “knowing or unwitting participant,” yet no internal investigation was launched by the Providence Police Department.

The case has fueled accusations of institutional blindness — or protection — as communities continue to grapple with the deadly toll of fentanyl. While federal authorities secured a conviction, critics say the unanswered questions about local accountability may be just as damaging as the crimes themselves.

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