Crime & Safety

Eight Warren Residents Indicted After State Police Drug Investigation

Eighteen people were indicted by the Providence County Grand Jury, including eight residents from Warren and one from Bristol.

Eight Warren residents and one Bristol man were among a group of 18 people indicted today on drug charges after a six-month investigation by the Rhode Island State Police. All the local people were charged with criminal solicitation.

The Providence County Grand Jury handed out the indictments today, according to a press release from the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office.

The 18 were charged with varying criminal offenses, including possession of up to a kilo of cocaine, delivery of cocaine, possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, possession of cocaine, and solicitation to commit a felony.

Find out what's happening in Bristol-Warrenwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The state police received a court order to intercept communications relative to drug distribution. Police intercepted more than 1,100 calls and were able to identify more than a dozen people as customers in the alleged drug operation.

The investigation spanned multiple towns, including Providence and Warren, among other Rhode Island and Massachusetts communities.

Find out what's happening in Bristol-Warrenwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The individuals charged are scheduled to be arraigned in Providence County Superior Court on Aug. 29.

Those indicted and their charges include:

  • Norman Barnowski, 48, of 13 Parker Ave., Warren, RI; two counts of criminal solicitation.
  • Daniel Benevides, 37, of 459 Child St., Warren, RI; two counts of criminal solicitation.
  • Ron Charves, 34, of 26 Beach St., Warren, RI; two counts of criminal solicitation.
  • Robert Dallaire, 46, of 833 Main St., Warren, RI; criminal solicitation.
  • Patricia Guido, 53, of 118 Water St., Warren, RI; two counts of criminal solicitation.
  • Francis O’Halloran, of 361 Child St., Warren, RI; criminal solicitation.
  • Joao Pimental, 54, of 325 Child St., Warren, RI; two counts of criminal solicitation.
  • Stephen Restivo, 62,  of 20 Croade St., #2, Warren, RI; two counts of criminal solicitation.
  • William Destefano, 42, of 241 State St., Apt. 2, Bristol, RI; criminal solicitation.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.