Providence man convicted of kidnapping mail carrier

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) – One of five men arrested in connection with the kidnapping of a mail carrier in Pawtucket three years ago was sentenced Tuesday to nearly six years in prison.

Irving Medina, 36, of Providence, previously pleaded guilty for his role in the June 1, 2021 kidnapping. Prosecutors said three men forced the mailman into a car at gunpoint, thinking that he had intercepted a shipment of cocaine coming from Puerto Rico.

The victim was questioned outside his Pawtucket home and eventually returned to his mail truck after the suspects determined he did not have any narcotics, according to court documents.

Investigators said Medina had staked out the post office where the victim worked, as well as her home before the kidnapping.

Medina's attorney, Mary June Ciresi, argued that her client played a minor role in the scheme. But Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Lowell resisted, telling the court that Medina “knew exactly what was going on in this conspiracy.”

Medina was arrested two months after the kidnapping and charged with several drug-related counts as well as the kidnapping. As part of a plea deal with prosecutors, the kidnapping charge was dropped, but the crime still played a role in U.S. Chief Justice John McConnell's sentencing decision.

“The members of this conspiracy wanted their illegal drugs that were sent from Puerto Rico – but disappeared – so badly that they physically abused them, and by that I mean assaulting and kidnapping a public official.” » said McConnell. “This takes the crime committed to an even more serious level.”

The victim's wife spoke in court and told McConnell that her husband suffered from PTSD because of the trauma he experienced that day.

“Trying to put into words the anguish my family endured was difficult,” she said. “We always try to sleep at night without checking our security cameras or our children. »

Lowell said Medina expressed little remorse for his actions.

“He is responsible for destroying a young family’s sense of security,” Lowell said. “Perhaps hearing from the victim’s wife today will help him understand the harm he has caused.”

Ciresi asked the court to sentence Medina to five years in prison, which is the minimum required by federal sentencing guidelines. Prosecutors sought the harshest sentence under the guidelines. McConnell sided with prosecutors and sentenced Medina to 70 months.

Medina will be given credit for time served after spending nearly three years at the Wyatt Detention Center since his arrest. Once released, he will be subject to four months of probation.

The other suspects – Alijah Parsons, 29, Andres Garay, 35, Ronald Hall, 39, all of Providence, and Edgar Medina, 36, of Johnston – are awaiting trial.

They all pleaded not guilty.