A 49-year-old man, who has a lengthy criminal record and has spent a significant portion of his life behind bars, has been sentenced for trafficking multiple kilos of methamphetamine into Rhode Island. This announcement was made by United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
Carl Sharp, a 49-year-old resident of Peoria, Arizona, who previously lived in Rhode Island, received a sentence of 120 months in prison from U.S. District Court Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr. This will be followed by five years of federal supervised release. On October 15, 2024, Sharp pleaded guilty to the distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
According to court records, Sharp has a history of previous convictions and imprisonment for various offenses, including drug trafficking, domestic violence, and assault. Additionally, Sharp was once charged with murder, but was acquitted when a crucial witness passed away.
During a federal investigation into the transportation of drugs through the U.S. Mail from Western states to Rhode Island, the United States Postal Inspection Service discovered thirteen packages. Six of these packages were traced back to Sharp. The authorities obtained search warrants for three of these packages, two of which were mailed by Sharp. In total, the searches led to the confiscation of 4.44 kilograms of methamphetamine and 249 grams of cocaine.
Sharp shipped one of the packages to a Rhode Island residence where he had previously conducted his drug trafficking operations. Another parcel was delivered to the home of an unsuspecting 85-year-old woman who lived alone. When she opened the package and discovered almost two kilograms of meth concealed within clothing, a man appeared at her back door inquiring about the package. The woman informed him that she did not possess it, prompting him to depart. Subsequently, she took the package to the post office.
Between January 2022 and May 2024, a thorough financial investigation revealed that Sharp had deposited more than $320,000 in unexplained cash into his personal bank account.
Assistant United States Attorney Sandra R. Hebert prosecuted the case.
The United States Postal Inspection Service, with the assistance of the FBI, conducted an investigation into the matter.