Brothers plead guilty to trafficking marijuana

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Two brothers pleaded guilty Monday to participating in a conspiracy to ship 239 pounds of marijuana to Rhode Island from Pennsylvania in December 2013. The investigation was conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Rhode Island State Police High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force and the Warwick Police Department.

Benjamin J. Daniels, 37, of West Bountiful, Utah, admitted to conspiring to distribute and posses with the intent to distribute 50 kilograms or more of marijuana. His brother, Michael Daniels, 32, of Tiverton, Rhode Island, pleaded guilty August 28 to conspiracy to distribute and posses with the intent to distribute 50 kilograms or more of marijuana.

According to his plea agreement, in December 2013, HSI special agents in Pittsburgh, in conjunction with U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Division conducted an investigation of a single-engine aircraft located at an airport in New Castle, Pennsylvania. A court authorized search of the aircraft resulted in the discovery of 12 sealed boxes marked "Sun Max, Hot Water Solutions" which contained a total of 239 pounds of marijuana. HSI special agents determined that Benjamin Daniels arranged for the pilot to fly the packages to New England for delivery, either to Benjamin Daniels or a person designated by him.

According to court documents, special agents followed the Dec. 16, 2013, shipment from Pennsylvania to North Central Airport in Smithfield, Rhode Island. Once on the ground, at the direction of Benjamin Daniels, the pilot made arrangements to transport the boxes to a hotel in Lincoln, Rhode Island. Once at the hotel, the pilot was instructed by Benjamin Daniels to meet up with a person who looked just like him. Special agents watched as Michael Daniels pulled into the hotel parking lot, met with the pilot and began loading the boxes into a rented vehicle that he was driving. HSI special agents arrested Michael Daniels, and seized the 12 boxes of marijuana and $4,694 in cash found in his possession.

Michael Daniels is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge William E. Smith November 14; Benjamin Daniels is scheduled to be sentenced Dec.19.

Each face up to 20 years in federal prison, a fine of up to $1,000,000 and a lifetime of supervised release.