John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that NIGEL JONES, 37, of West Haven, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to 18 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for his role in a heroin and cocaine trafficking ring.  Judge Underhill also ordered Jones to serve the first six months of his term of supervised release in home confinement.

This matter stems from a joint investigation headed by the DEA New Haven Task Force, FBI and New Haven Police Department into a New Haven-based drug trafficking organization that acquired and distributed heroin and cocaine. 

During the investigation, law enforcement officers seized more than 500 grams of heroin, more than 300 grams of fentanyl, more than one kilogram of cocaine, three firearms, over $90,000 in cash, vehicles, jewelry and precious metals.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Jones purchased heroin from another member of the organization and sold the drug in smaller quantities to his own customers.

On April 19, 2018, a grand jury in New Haven returned an indictment charging Jones and 18 other individuals with narcotics trafficking offenses.  Jones and several other members of the conspiracy were arrested on April 25, 2018.

On September 13, 2018, while he was released on bond, Jones was arrested by New Haven Police and charged with possession of a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell after he was found in possession of distribution quantities of heroin and marijuana.

Jones’ federal bond was revoked and, on January 15, 2019, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute heroin and cocaine.

Jones criminal history includes a federal conviction in April 2014 for using a telephone to facilitate the commission of a drug trafficking felony.  He was sentenced to 30 months of imprisonment for that offense.

The DEA New Haven Task Force includes participants from the U.S. Marshals Service, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, and the New Haven, Hamden, West Haven, North Haven, Branford, Ansonia, Meriden, Derby, Middletown, Naugatuck and Waterbury Police Departments.  The Connecticut Department of Correction, Milford Police Department and East Haven Police Department have assisted the investigation.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney H. Gordon Hall.

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that STEPHEN JONES, also known as “EVX” and “Stevie D,” 35, of New Haven, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to 60 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release, for his role in a heroin and cocaine trafficking ring.

This matter stems from a joint investigation headed by the DEA New Haven Task Force, FBI and New Haven Police Department into a New Haven-based drug trafficking organization that acquired and distributed heroin and cocaine.  According to court documents and statements made in court, Jones packaged narcotics for street sale and, at times, delivered drugs to customers.

On April 19, 2018, a grand jury in New Haven returned an indictment charging Jones and 18 other individuals with narcotics trafficking offenses.  Jones and several other members of the conspiracy were arrested on April 25, 2019.  On January 29, 2019, Jones pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute heroin and cocaine. 

During the investigation, law enforcement officers seized more than 500 grams of heroin, more than 300 grams of fentanyl, more than one kilogram of cocaine, three firearms, over $90,000 in cash, vehicles, jewelry and precious metals.

The DEA New Haven Task Force includes participants from the U.S. Marshals Service, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, and the New Haven, Hamden, West Haven, North Haven, Branford, Ansonia, Meriden, Derby, Middletown, Naugatuck and Waterbury Police Departments.  The Connecticut Department of Correction, Milford Police Department and East Haven Police Department have assisted the investigation.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney H. Gordon Hall.

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that two men were sentenced today in Bridgeport federal court for trafficking narcotics.  U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill sentenced STEVEN McCOY, also known as “S Dot,” 26, of Hamden, to 60 months of imprisonment and four years of supervised release, and CHRISTOPHER SERRANO, also known as “Mancho,” 35, of Milford, to time served, four years of supervised release, one year of home confinement and a $1,000 fine.

According to court documents and statements, this matter stems from a joint investigation headed by the DEA New Haven Task Force, FBI and New Haven Police Department into a New Haven-based drug trafficking organization that acquired and distributed heroin and cocaine.  On April 19, 2018, a grand jury in New Haven returned an indictment charging McCoy, Serrano and 17 other individuals with narcotics trafficking offenses.

During the investigation, law enforcement officers seized more than 500 grams of heroin, more than 300 grams of fentanyl, more than one kilogram of cocaine, three firearms, over $90,000 in cash, vehicles, jewelry and precious metals.

The investigation revealed that McCoy received large quantities of heroin from another member of the conspiracy and sold the drug in smaller amounts to his own customers.

On one occasion, in February 2018, Serrano acted as a middleman for a transaction involving a half-kilogram of cocaine between two other members of the conspiracy.

McCoy and Serrano were arrested on April 25, 2019.

On March 13, 2019, McCoy pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin.  On January 14, 2019, Serrano pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine.

The DEA New Haven Task Force includes participants from the U.S. Marshals Service, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, and the New Haven, Hamden, West Haven, North Haven, Branford, Ansonia, Meriden, Derby, Middletown, Naugatuck and Waterbury Police Departments.  The Connecticut Department of Correction, Milford Police Department and East Haven Police Department have assisted the investigation.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney H. Gordon Hall.

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that, on June 14, 2019, SAMUEL CRUZ, 41, of New Haven, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to 60 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release, for trafficking heroin and cocaine.

This matter stems from a joint investigation headed by the DEA New Haven Task Force, FBI and New Haven Police Department into a New Haven-based drug trafficking organization that acquired and distributed heroin and cocaine.  According to court documents and statements made in court, on multiple occasions between December 2017 and March 2018, Cruz was intercepted on a court-authorized wiretap obtaining heroin and cocaine from another member of the conspiracy.  He then distributed the drugs to his own customers.

On April 19, 2018, a grand jury in New Haven returned an indictment charging Cruz and 18 other individuals with narcotics trafficking offenses.  Cruz has been detained since his arrest on April 25, 2019.  On March 14, 2019, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute heroin and cocaine. 

During the investigation, law enforcement officers seized more than 500 grams of heroin, more than 300 grams of fentanyl, more than one kilogram of cocaine, three firearms, over $90,000 in cash, vehicles, jewelry and precious metals.

The DEA New Haven Task Force includes participants from the U.S. Marshals Service, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, and the New Haven, Hamden, West Haven, North Haven, Branford, Ansonia, Meriden, Derby, Middletown, Naugatuck and Waterbury Police Departments.  The Connecticut Department of Correction, Milford Police Department and East Haven Police Department have assisted the investigation.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney H. Gordon Hall.

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Albert Angelucci, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England, Patricia Ferrick, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation for Connecticut, and Anthony Campbell, Chief of the New Haven Police Department, today announced the unsealing of an indictment charging 19 individuals with federal narcotics offenses related to the trafficking of heroin and cocaine in Connecticut.

Seventeen of the 19 defendants were arrested yesterday, one defendant is in state custody, and one defendant is in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Michigan.

This matter stems from a joint investigation headed by the DEA New Haven Task Force, FBI and New Haven Police Department that has included the use of court-authorized wiretaps, controlled purchases of heroin and cocaine, and seizures of bulk heroin and cocaine.  It is alleged that Duane Filyaw, of New Haven, operated a heroin and cocaine trafficking ring in which he conspired with others to purchase narcotics from suppliers and then distribute the drugs to other suppliers of street-level dealers in and around New Haven.

During the course of the investigation, law enforcement officers seized more than 200 grams of heroin and more than one kilogram of cocaine through supervised purchases and interdictions of on-going transactions.  In association with today’s arrests and the execution of multiple search warrants, officers seized three firearms, approximately 360 grams of fentanyl, approximately 340 grams of suspected heroin, approximately 80 grams of cocaine, more than $90,000 in cash, vehicles, jewelry and precious metals.

On April 19, 2018, a grand jury in New Haven returned a six-count indictment charging

DUANE FILYAW, 34, of New HavenNEFTALI FERNANDEZ, a.k.a. “Nef,” 31, of MeridenLEON GREENE, a.k.a. “Gotti,” 43, of CheshireRAFAEL SERRANO, 43, of West HavenSALVATORE ORSINI, 27, of West HavenCHRISTOPHER SERRANO, a.k.a. “Mancho,” 34, of MilfordNORMAN EDGARDO PEREZ, a.k.a. “Rico,” of Oakland, Calif.LORENZO MORALES-ARAMBULA, a.k.a. “Viejo,” 56, of Mexico (in ICE custody)NATIVIDAD DIAZ, a.k.a. “Nat,” 34, of MeridenJOHNATHAN BRITO, 24, of WaterburyHARRISON ELBA, 27, of SimsburyGABRIEL ROMERO ESCALERA, 27, of San Juan, P.R.BIRL JACKSON, 36, of New Haven (in state custody)STEVEN McCOY, a.k.a. “S Dot,” 25, of New HavenSTEPHEN JONES, a.k.a. “EVX” and “Stevie D,” 33, of New HavenHAKEEM BASIR, a.k.a. “Neil Ford,” 54, of WaterburyCARLOS OVALLE, a.k.a. “Carlos Tirado,” 46, of East HartfordNIGEL JONES, 36, of New HavenSAMUEL CRUZ, 40, of New Haven

Each of the defendants is charged with conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute heroin and cocaine.  If convicted of this charge, based on the type and quantity of narcotics charged, Filyaw, Fernandez, Greene, Perez, Morales-Arambula, Diaz,  Escalera and Ovalle face a minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life; Rafael Serrano, Orsini, Christopher Serrano, Brito, Elba, Jackson, McCoy, Stephen Jones, Basir and Cruz face a minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years; and Nigel Jones faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.

The indictment also charges Rafael and Christopher Serrano, Fernandez, Filyaw, Orsini, Elba and Brito counts of possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, heroin or cocaine. 

“As alleged, this drug trafficking organization, which used multiple sources of supply, has been responsible for the distribution of significant quantities of heroin and cocaine in Connecticut,” said U.S. Attorney Durham.  “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to working closely with the DEA, FBI, and our state and local law enforcement partners to disrupt drug networks – especially those that distribute heroin, fentanyl and other dangerous opioids – and prosecute those responsible.”

“DEA is committed to investigating and dismantling large scale poly drug trafficking organizations like this one operating in the New Haven area,” said DEA Acting Special Agent in Charge Albert Angelucci.  “Let these arrests serve as an example to those who distribute heroin and cocaine in order to profit and destroy people’s lives, that DEA will aggressively pursue and hold you accountable.  This investigation demonstrates the strength of collaborative law enforcement efforts in Connecticut and our strong partnership with the U. S. Attorney’s Office.”

“All illicit drugs being sold in our communities are a problem, but the illegal distribution of opioids has proven to be the greater issue here and across this country,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Ferrick.  “We at the FBI along with the DEA, New Haven Police Department and many other law enforcement partners are once again proving that we will make illicit drug sales in our communities a priority.  We will continue to dismantle groups like this in every city in our effort to save lives.”

“The New Haven Police Department is proud of the hard work put in by our officers and our state and federal partners in bringing those involved in illegal drug trade to justice,” said New Haven Police Chief Campbell.  “Those that poison our kids and endanger our citizens deserve to be behind bars.  We’re a safer city now that these arrests have been made.”

U.S. Attorney Durham stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This investigation is being led by the DEA New Haven Task Force, Federal Bureau of Investigation and New Haven Police Department.  The DEA New Haven Task Force includes participants from the New Haven, Hamden, West Haven, North Haven, East Haven, Branford, Ansonia, Meriden and Derby Police Departments, and the U.S. Marshals Service.  The Connecticut Department of Correction, Milford Police Department and East Haven Police Department are also assisting the investigation.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney H. Gordon Hall.