2 More Arrested In Drug Scheme With Mob Figure

 

Two Johnston men are charged as accomplices of Matthew L. Guglielmetti Jr., who was arrested Thursday.

 

 

 

BY W. ZACHARY MALINOWSKI

Journal Staff Writer

Saturday, January 22, 2005

 

PROVIDENCE -- Two more men were arrested yesterday on federal drug charges for allegedly working with mobster Matthew L. Guglielmetti Jr. to protect a shipment of cocaine that was passing through Rhode Island en route to Canada.

 

Anthony Moscarelli, 44, and Alan Blamires, 49, both of Johnston, were each picked up yesterday and charged with conspiracy to distribute and intent to possess with intent to distribute more than 5 kilograms of cocaine.

 

On Thursday, Guglielmetti, 56, a high-ranking capo regime in the Patriarca crime family, was charged with the same crimes. According to the authorities, Guglielmetti met with an undercover FBI agent and agreed to protect the shipment of cocaine. They also talked about laundering the money once the cocaine was distributed.

 

Guglielmetti, Moscarelli and Blamires are all being held without bail at the Donald W. Wyatt Detention Center in Central Falls. If convicted, they face a minimum of 10 years and up to life imprisonment.

 

The cocaine shipment was due to arrive in Rhode Island this week, according to an affidavit filed in federal court, and was to be kept at an unnamed hotel.

 

The affidavit says that Guglielmetti arranged for Moscarelli and Blamires to guard the cocaine and to meet with two other undercover agents posing as employees of the cocaine supplier.

 

On Tuesday, shortly after 6 p.m., Moscarelli and Blamires arrived at the designated hotel room to find two undercover police officers and 67 kilos of cocaine in suitcases. The four men stayed together for about five hours, during which two more undercover agents came and took 18 kilos with the stated intention of distributing the drugs in Central Falls.

 

On Thursday, Guglielmetti met with an undercover agent in Johnston to receive payment. Instead, he was arrested.

 

A few hours later, federal agents, along with state and Providence police, executed a search warrant at the Arthur E. Coia Building at 226 South Main St., Providence, a brick building that houses the regional operations of the Laborers' International Union in Providence. A second search was executed at Capital City Concrete at 108 Phenix Ave., in Cranston.

 

Guglielmetti was a union laborer and had worked for the concrete firm. The firm is owned by Lori Manni DeRobbio. One of Guglielmetti's coworkers there was Albert E. DeRobbio II, the son of Chief District Court Judge Albert E. DeRobbio.

 

Lori and Albert DeRobbio II are in the process of getting divorced.