Providence Woman Seeks License to Run Auto Shop Tied to 2011 Drug Bust

The Attleboro City Council will need to decide whether or not a Providence resident is a "proper person" for a license to sell automobiles.

Rosanna Diaz was before the council during a public hearing Tuesday night along with her fiance', Daniel Martinez, also of Providence.

Diaz, who wishes to run an auto business at 116 Dickins St. with Martinez serving as the mechanic, told councilors that she has ties to Basilio Rosario, who was arrested in 2011 for a drug trafficking incident tied to the shop.

Rosario's daughter, Candy Vicente was subsequently denied an auto license.

Rosario, Diaz said, is the former stepfather of Martinez. Both Diaz and Martinez denied having a relationship or any contact with Rosario at the current time.

Councilman Peter Blais asked Diaz if Rosario or Vicente will have any role in the business.

"Not now. Not in the future," she said.

Diaz's license was revoked last spring after violating terms of their special permit related to zoning. Attorney Ed Casey, however, told the board that Zoning Board is now satisfied with actions taken.

Diaz is currently a dental hygentist attending dental school. Casey said she is at the shop nearly every day.

"Over the course of a number of months we were able to address all of the Zoning Board’s concerns," Casey said. "I think at the end of the presentation, when the zoning board closed the hearing, the zoning board had sufficient time to evaluate the character of this woman and her fiance’."

Casey said that Diaz, who came to America from the Dominican Republic in 2006, embodies the "American Spirit."

"I offer this history to you because if I were in your shoes, I would be wondering, ‘are we dealing with the same potential problem with a different name?’ I don’t think so," he said.

The hearing was continued to Oct. 15.