A press release from the US Attorney for the District of Rhode Island outlines the conviction of Shelton Smalls, a Providence resident. He now faces up to life in federal prison when he appears before Judge Mary Lisi next year.
His conviction was for trafficking in heroin, crack cocaine and possessing a firearm in the furtherance of those acts. Mr. Smalls was captured back in April when narcotics officers observed him during a stakeout in a known drug dealing area. The restaurant parking lot deal between Smalls and an unnamed individual was followed up by detectives who confronted the “customer.” The man showed packets of heroin he had purchased as well as crack cocaine, identifying Smalls as the seller.
Smalls was then arrested and admitted he had more drugs at his house. This led to a search of his upstairs apartment where police “found a .357 revolver and a .22 caliber handgun in a laundry basket; and then located heroin, crack cocaine, $1,300 in cash and assorted drug trafficking supplies in a safe to which Smalls also provided access. Detectives had already seized $853 in cash from Small’s pockets.”
The trial only lasted two days, and Smalls was found guilty of all charges.
According to the US Attorney’s Office, Mr. Smalls has been convicted previously of numerous violent crimes, including drug trafficking. Life in prison may be the correct sentence in this case if he is a career criminal.
There was no mention in the press release of what happened to Smalls’ customer, the man who bought cocaine and crack from him in the restaurant parking lot. Police may have used his testimony to establish the chain of probable cause used to arrest Smalls and search his vehicle. In cases where drug users roll over on their dealer, their charges are usually reduced. Hopefully, the man is receiving treatment for his drug abuse problem.
