Burrillville Postal Worker Charged With Stealing Guns, Trafficking Drugs: AG

BURRILLVILLE, RI — A Burrillville postal worker was charged with stealing guns, coins, trading cards, and jewelry from the mail, according to the Rhode Island Attorney General's Office.

Aubrey Dante, 54, was charged with larceny of a firearm, possession of a stolen firearm, carrying a dangerous weapon while committing a crime of violence, larceny of more than $1,500, possession with intent to deliver cocaine, possession with intent to deliver marijuana, possession with intent to deliver heroin, and maintaining controlled substances, the attorney general's office said in a media release.

The law "launched an investigation after multiple USPS parcels were reported stolen, with contents that included firearms, coins, trading cards, and assorted jewelry," the release said.

"As alleged, investigators used surveillance, parcel scans, and various other investigative methods to identify the defendant as a suspect," according to the release. "As further alleged, investigators observed the defendant on several occasions opening USPS packages and removing their contents while acting in his official capacity as a postal employee at the Providence Processing and Distribution Center on Corliss Street."

Police obtained and executed search warrants and "apprehended (Dante) outside his Snake Hill Road residence," the release said.

"Investigators seized several stolen firearms, approximately 35.9 kg of marijuana, in addition to other firearms, drugs, and drug paraphernalia," according to the release.

"As further alleged, investigators seized eight firearms including three stolen Sig Sauer P226 9mm pistols, one CZ 75 compact 9mm pistol, one North American Firearms .22 magnum revolver, one Smith & Wesson, CTG, .22 caliber revolver, one Smith & Wesson, 38 special, .38 caliber revolver, and one Browning, Invector BPS Special Steel, 12-gauge shotgun," the release said.

Investigators also "seized large quantities of various narcotics including a brick of cocaine" as well as a "plastic bag of cocaine ... a plastic bag of methamphetamine pills ... another bag of methamphetamine pills ... three bags of crystal methamphetamine ... large bins containing multiple packages of bulk marijuana ... Psilocybin mushrooms ... a bag of Xanax pills ... and another bag of Xanax pills," the release said.

“As alleged, this defendant used his position within the USPS to intercept packages containing weapons and created a stockpile of guns and drugs in his home," Rhode Island Attorney General Peter F. Neronha said in the release.

"And because of our team’s quick action, that’s as far as he got," Neronha said.

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