PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Two men have been charged in federal court in Providence with witness tampering in connection with a person cooperating with police regarding the trafficking of acetyl fentanyl, a synthetic drug linked to 12 deaths in Rhode Island.
They are Joshua Rojas, also known as Joshua Ramos, 19, of Woonsocket, and Victor Burgos, also known as Fat Boy, 20, of Providence.
The drug has been identified as a never-before-seen variant of the narcotic painkiller fentanyl. The drug is an opiate similar to morphine and is not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and is not prescribed by physicians.
It's alleged that Rojas and Burgos took threatening actions and made threatening remarks in an effort to intimidate the person cooperating with law enforcement.
Burgos has also been charged with one count each of possession with the intent to distribute acetyl fentanyl and distribution of acetyl fentanyl.
Both have been detained.