PAWTUCKET, R.I. (WPRI) — A Pawtucket man was sentenced to life in prison for shooting and killing a Cumberland man back in 2022.

Jovon Depina, 28, pleaded guilty Thursday to first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and possession of a ghost gun in the shooting death of Jovani Velez, 28, according to the R.I. Attorney General's Office.

Depina was sentenced to life at the ACI, plus another 10 years with 5 to serve and 10 years of probation.

Had the case gone to trial, the AG's office said the state was prepared to prove that Depina murdered Velez on the night of Jan. 30, 2022. Prosecutors alleged that he and a second suspect, Elijah Soto, met Velez in a parking lot in the area of Park and Laurel streets for a drug deal.

After an argument, Soto drove Depina home where he retrieve

See Full Page