Providence Detective Pleads Guilty to Drug Charges
Friday, December 10, 2010
Providence Police Detective Joseph Colanduono pleaded guilty to four charges in connection with his involvement in Operation Deception.
Colanduono, 45, of 9 Bayberry Drive in West Warwick, pleaded guilty in Providence County Superior Court to two counts of conspiracy to deliver cocaine, one count of larceny over $500, and one count of harboring a criminal. In light of his plea the State dropped five other counts against him, two of conspiracy to deliver cocaine, one of cocaine possession, one of misprision of a felony, and one of conspiracy to harbor a criminal.
"The plea entered today by Detective Joseph Colanduono, who tarnished the badge with which he was entrusted, marks a sad day for law enforcement," said Attorney General Patrick C. Lynch. "While this defendant has heaped shame upon himself, we are grateful that no harm was done to his colleagues or the public as a consequence of his criminal activity."
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Colanduono will be sentences on January 24, 2011. The maximum sentence he may serve is 20 years with no more than 10 served at the ACI.
