Jeremy Barnes went from small-town Tiverton to heading a large-scale drug trafficking organization that brought tons of marijuana from Mexican cartels through San Diego and into Rhode Island and Massachusetts, federal authorities allege.

Barnes, 34, who was arrested by federal drug enforcement agents Monday during a drug-case appearance in New Bedford Superior Court brought by Fall River police, has been living in the Promenade residences in Providence — in a unit previously occupied by a cast member of television’s Grey’s Anatomy, according to David C. Toracinta, a Drug Enforcement Administration special agent.

Federal authorities believe Barnes supervised what they refer to as the “Barnes marijuana traffic organization,” Toracinta said. Authorities allege that the organization imported and distributed several tons of marijuana, according to Toracinta.

If convicted of charges, including possession with intent to distribute and distribution of marijuana, Barnes faces up to 20 years in prison and up to a $1-million fine on each charge, according to a statement from U.S. Attorney Michael Sullivan’s office in Massachusetts. Toracinta said that after an initial U.S. Marshals hearing in Boston, Barnes is being held without bail and awaits a hearing.

The investigation that led to the Aug. 6 federal indictment of Barnes began where he grew up, in Tiverton, where the police in 2005 became aware he was allegedly “importing and storing large quantities [of marijuana] in the town of Tiverton,” Toracinta said. The Tiverton police, the DEA and other authorities worked together on the case. Toracinta said the DEA had already been aware of some of Barnes’ activities.

The investigation included the DEA, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the police in Tiverton — particularly Detective Sgt. Charles Mulcahy, who worked on a task force — as well as the police in Fall River, Somerset, Warwick and Bristol. The Postal Inspection Service was involved because Barnes was suspected of using the U.S. mail for drug crimes, Toracinta said.

The Fall River police arrested Barnes last October for a case in their city.

At the U.S. Marshals hearing in Boston, Barnes gave his address as 68 Captains Circle in Tiverton, according to Toracinta, but at the time of the arrest he was living at the Promenade in Providence.

mmckinne@projo.com