Target 12 Managing Editor Tim White joined this week’s episode of “Behind the Story” to discuss a police raid in Cranston, as well as a former judge’s admission of fraud.
Tim White, who covers the criminal justice system, has been tracking a developing story in Cranston, where police raided the former home of a notorious drug dealer that they suspected was being used as a stash house.
The stash-house theory didn’t pan out, but police nonetheless arrested one man for illegally selling marijuana and abusing a pit bull. Two other men were also charged with animal cruelty.
The home was formerly occupied by Jasdrual “Josh” Perez, who’s currently serving time in prison for running a multistate illegal narcotics operation based in Providence. The Cranston home is owned by his mother, who’s the sister of Providence Police Col. Oscar Perez.
The mother is now renting out the home, and Oscar Perez said he didn’t know the man arrested for dealing drugs. According to a police affidavit, detectives were examining whether people in Josh Perez’s orbit were trying to pick up where he left off in the drug trade.
“Narcotics detectives will tell you that their investigations are like whack-a-mole,” White said. “Josh Perez was … a kingpin in fentanyl dealing. There were going to be other people that filled that vacuum because unfortunately, the demand is still there and other people want a slice of that pie.”
White also discussed another case receiving attention this week involving former Central Falls Municipal Court Judge Joseph Molina Flynn, 43, who pleaded guilty to wire fraud and tax evasion.
Federal prosecutors said Molina Flynn, who worked as an immigration attorney, was ripping off clients to pay for personal expenses. He has agreed to pay more than $83,000 in restitution and must repay the government between $550,000 and $1.5 million.
“Molina Flynn himself was a real success story,” White said, explaining how he immigrated to the United States as a child, attended college, taught law and served as a municipal judge.
“His whole world collapsed because he was taking advantage of the very people that were like him when he came here at 9 years old,” White added. “It’s just a fascinating story.”
Molina Flynn faces more than 20 years in prison. He’s scheduled to be sentenced Dec. 17.
Later in the show, Kim and Eli discussed the “stories we wish we wrote,” including (not all mentioned on air):
“Behind the Story” is hosted by Eli Sherman and Kim Kalunian of 12 News, along with Dan McGowan of The Boston Globe.