Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

Jeremy Barnes went from small-town Tiverton to heading a large-scale drug trafficking organization that brought tons of marijuana from Mexican cartels through San Diego and into Rhode Island and Massachusetts, federal authorities allege.

Barnes, 34, who was arrested by federal drug enforcement agents yesterday during a drug-case appearance in New Bedford Superior Court brought by Fall River police, has been living in the Promenade residences in Providence -- in a unit whose prior occupant was a cast member of television's Grey's Anatomy, according to David C. Toracinta, a Drug Enforcement Administration special agent.

Federal authorities believe Barnes supervised what they refer to as the "Barnes marijuana traffic organization" and had subordinates who worked under him, Toracinta said. Authorities allege that the organization imported and distributed several tons of marijuana, according to Toracinta.

If convicted of charges, including possession with intent to distribute and distribution of marijuana, Barnes faces up to 20 years in prison and up to a $1 million fine on each charge, according to a statement from U.S. Attorney Michael Sullivan's office in Massachusetts. Toracinta said that after an initial U.S. Marshals hearing in Boston, Barnes is being held without bail and awaits a detention hearing.

The investigation that led to the Aug. 6 federal indictment of Barnes began where he grew up, in Tiverton, where the police in 2005 became aware he was allegedly "importing and storing large quantities in the town of Tiverton," Toracinta said. The Tiverton police, the DEA and other authorities worked together on the case. Toracinta said the DEA was aware prior to that year of activities in which Barnes allegedly was involved.

The investigation included the DEA, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and police in Tiverton -- particularly Det. Sgt. Charles Mulcahy, who worked on a task force -- Fall River, Somerset, Mass., Warwick, and Bristol. The Postal Inspection Service was involved because Barnes allegedly "committed drug crimes through the U.S. mail," Toracinta said.

The Fall River police arrested Barnes last October for a case in their city.

At the U.S. Marshals hearing in Boston, Barnes gave his address as 68 Captains Circle in Tiverton, according to Toracinta, but at the time of the arrest he was living at the Promenade in Providence. According to the Promenade's Web site, studio apartments start at $1,100 per month, one-bedroom apartments start at $1,400 a month and two-bedroom apartments start at $2,000 per month.

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney

 Tags  Drug Enforcement Administration Tiverton

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