PROVIDENCE —A federal grand jury has charged an 18-year-old member of the Providence Street Boyz with trafficking in cocaine. The police seized a handgun when they arrested Junior Ry in August.

Ry was arraigned in U.S. District Court on Nov. 3 and pleaded not guilty before Magistrate Judge David L. Martin, who ordered him detained. Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Rose said Providence police arrested Ry on Aug. 5 when he was a passenger in a car that the police stopped on Cranston Street. The police seized about 17 pieces of crack cocaine from Ry, and seized a .380 caliber handgun from the floorboard. According to Rose, Ry bought the gun to defend himself against the Oriental Rascals gang.

Ry was charged with one count of possessing crack cocaine with intent to distribute. The maximum penalty is 20 years in prison plus a $1-million fine.