East Providence Police arrest Scituate man on cocaine, heroin charges

Combine with Providence PD; operated out of barber shop

By Mike Rego
Posted 3/19/18

PROVIDENCE — The owner of a Providence barber shot just over the line from East Providence was among a trio arrested recently on numerous charges of intent to sell narcotics.

The Providence …

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East Providence Police arrest Scituate man on cocaine, heroin charges

Combine with Providence PD; operated out of barber shop

Posted

PROVIDENCE — The owner of a Providence barber shot just over the line from East Providence was among a trio arrested recently on numerous charges of intent to sell narcotics.

The Providence Police Department and East Providence Police released a joint statement earlier this week announcing Robert Parenti, of Scituate, has been charged with possession and intent to deliver cocaine, heroin and fentanyl. In addition, Mr. Parenti, 39, was charged with illegal possession of a firearm.

The PPD Intelligence Bureau and the EPPD’s Narcotics Unit cooperated on the investigation, leading to the granting and execution of a warrant on February 15 to search the premisses at 334 South Water St., Providence, where Mr. Parenti operated “Xclusive Cuts.”

According to a report by EPPD Detective Sergeant Diogo Mello, the investigation began when the EPPD Narcotics Unit received information alleging Mr. Parenti was supplying heroin and fentanyl throughout East Providence. Investigators also noticed a recent corresponding uptick in heroin/fentanyl-related overdoses in the city.

The EPPD Narcotics Unit effort eventually identified individuals working for Mr. Parenti as well as possible so-called “stash locations” where the drugs were hidden. One of those locations was considered to be Mr. Parenti’s barber shop, “Xclusive Cuts,” in the basement of a building on South Main Street. It was at that point detectives with the Providence Police Departments Intelligence Bureau were contacted and brought onto the case. Undercover police officers made several controlled purchases of heroin/fentanyl throughout the investigation.

One day in mid-February of this year, police surveillance teams observed several individuals known to be from East Providence entering the barber shop. Moments later, Mr. Parenti arrived, allowing police to immediately execute the search warrant.

Det. Mello’s report continued, upon entering the barber shop, investigators encountered nine individuals crowded into a small room at the back of the building. All individuals, including Mr. Parenti, were secured and police began a “systematic search” of the location.

The search resulted in the finding and seizure of the following: approximately 22 grams of cocaine and heroin/fentanyl, a loaded .38 caliber Smith & Wesson revolver; 63 oxycodone pills; and $44,995 in cash.

Besides Mr. Parenti, two others were also arrested: Derek Carvalho, a 31-year-old East Providence resident, and Christopher Machowski, 42. Mr. Carvalho was charged with possession of fentanyl. Mr. Machowski was arrested on an outstanding warrant on charges of the manufacture/sale/deliver of cocaine. Two East Providence residents at the scene were released pending further investigation.

The three individual arrested were transported to Providence Police Department headquarters for processing. Mr. Parenti was held pending a violation hearing.

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A lifelong Portsmouth resident, Jim graduated from Portsmouth High School in 1982 and earned a journalism degree from the University of Rhode Island in 1986. He's worked two different stints at East Bay Newspapers, for a total of 18 years with the company so far. When not running all over town bringing you the news from Portsmouth, Jim listens to lots and lots and lots of music, watches obscure silent films from the '20s and usually has three books going at once. He also loves to cook crazy New Orleans dishes for his wife of 25 years, Michelle, and their two sons, Jake and Max.