Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin announced that Joseph Esposito (age 71), of Narragansett, waived indictment and pleaded guilty today before Superior Court Justice Luis M. Matos to one count of possession of a controlled substance with the intent to deliver, two counts of delivery of a controlled substance, and one count of conspiracy. Under the terms of the plea, Esposito was sentenced to five years suspended with probation on each count, with sentences to run concurrent to one another. In addition, Esposito forfeited $900,000 in restitution and seized assets garnered from illegal marijuana proceeds.
Had the case proceeded to trial, the State was prepared to prove that Esposito and co-conspirator Timothy Hunter were operating an illegal and unlicensed marijuana grow out of a former jewelry manufacturing facility owned by Esposito located at 225 Dupont Drive in Providence. The case against Hunter is pending.
The investigation was led by Rhode Island State Police Detective Christopher O'Connors, with assistance from DEA Special Agent Anthony Cardello and South Kingstown Police Detective Joseph Iannelli. Assistant Attorney General John Moreira and Special Assistant Attorney General Joseph McBurney prosecuted the case on behalf of the Office of Attorney General.