Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin announced that Maurice Nova (age 28), of Pawtucket, pleaded guilty Friday before Superior Court Justice Robert D. Krause to multiple counts of distribution, manufacture and possession of a controlled substance. Under the terms of the plea, Nova was sentenced to 15 years with eight years to serve.
Had the case proceeded to trial, the State was prepared to prove that Nova operated a heroin and fentanyl distribution network connected to Hackers Pub in Central Falls. The defendant, and 8 other individuals, was indicted and arrested in October after a year-long investigation led by the FBI Safe Streets Task Force, with assistance from Pawtucket, Providence, and Central Falls Police Departments.
"A critical component to stopping the ongoing opioid abuse and addiction crisis in Rhode Island is to vigorously arrest and prosecute those who traffic in the deadly drug," said Attorney General Kilmartin.
Special Assistant Attorneys General Joseph McBurney and Peter Roklan prosecuted the case on behalf of the Office of Attorney General.