City man pleads guilty to growing marijuana in Branch Ave. mill building

PROVIDENCE – A 36-year-old city man pleaded guilty in federal court on Friday to participating in conspiracies to operate large-scale marijuana grow facilities inside a converted Providence mill building, according to U.S. Attorney Peter F. Neronha.
Richard A. Yang is one of eight individuals charged in February by way of a federal superseding indictment for participating in conspiracies to operate marijuana grow facilities inside the former mill building.
According to a news release from Neronha’s office, last August, FBI agents, assisted by federal Drug Enforcement Administration agents, Rhode Island State Police and Providence police, executed nine federal court authorized search warrants in and around 725 Branch Ave.
Approximately 1,400 marijuana plants were discovered inside numerous otherwise vacant apartments and offices. A tenth federal search warrant was executed at a Providence residence at 60 Valley St. where officials seized approximately 100 marijuana plants.
Yang, who appeared before U.S. District Court Chief Judge William E. Smith, admitted to the court that between December 2012 and August 2015, he conspired with others to operate large-scale marijuana grow facilities inside two rooms of the Branch Avenue building.
Law enforcement seized 884 marijuana plants in various stage of growth and 35 kilograms of harvested marijuana from Yang’s operations.

Yang pleaded guilty to conspiracy to manufacture over 100 marijuana plants, and manufacture of over 100 marijuana plants. He faces between five years and 40 years imprisonment when he is sentenced on Sept. 23. Yang also must forfeit $20,000
During a search of the Branch Avenue building, law enforcement seized a .22 caliber firearm from an area occupied by the building owner, William L. Ricci, 69. Ricci appeared before Smith on March 11, pleading guilty to manufacturing and storing marijuana, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Ricci will be sentenced Oct. 11.
Assistant U.S. Attorney William J. Ferland prosecuted the cases.

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