Man Sentenced to Prison for Transporting Drugs

A Rhode Island man who was found guilty last month of transporting fentanyl has been sentenced to seven-and-a-half to 15 years in state prison.

The sentencing of 37-year-old Juan Ramon Sepedro Encarnacion of Central Falls, R.I., was announced by Northampton County District Attorney Stephen Baratta’s office Monday.

Sepedro Encarnacion was stopped by Pennsylvania State Police on I-78 in Williams Township on March 25, 2022, for what were described as numerous traffic violations. During a subsequent search of his vehicle, troopers discovered a brown paper bag that contained a kilogram of vacuum-sealed fentanyl, which authorities calculated had a street value of over $250,000 at that time.

According to the DA’s office, the drugs were hidden inside the back panel of the car’s front passenger seat and could have been divided into 30,000 bagged units for sale.

Sepedro Encarnacion was represented by attorney James Connell of Bethlehem at his trial, which ended with his conviction on a possession with intent to manufacture or deliver felony charge.