John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England, and Hartford Police Chief David Rosado announced that a federal grand jury in Hartford returned a 28-count indictment today charging the following 16 individuals with various offenses related to the distribution of heroin, fentanyl and other narcotics in the Hartford area.

JULIO OLIVERAS, a.k.a. “Cuzzo Jay,” 32, of Hartford and New BritainVICTOR PERDOMO, a.k.a. “Domi,” 32, of HartfordJEREMY RODRIGUEZ, 21, of HartfordROBERT CAMPBELL, a.k.a. “Ant” and “Anthony,” 26, of HartfordPEDRO RIVERA, a.k.a. “Heavy,” 40, of HartfordJONATHAN QUINONES, 28, of HartfordALEXIS DeJESUS, 31, of HartfordLUIS RODRIGUEZ, 32, of HartfordANGEL GONZALEZ, a.k.a. “Spider” and “June,” 40, of HartfordANGEL ROMAN, 31, of HartfordJOSE COTTO, a.k.a. “White Boy,” 27, of HartfordANTONIO JOHNSON, a.k.a. “Unk,” 41, of HartfordMIGUEL ORTIZ, 39, of HartfordBIANCA VELASQUEZ, 21, of HartfordJENNIFER JONES, 39, of HartfordMICHAEL SPERO, 34, of Hartford

As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, in August 2017, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Hartford Task Force targeted a narcotics trafficking organization headed by Julio Oliveras, also known as “Cuzzo Jay,” of Hartford.  The investigation, which included approximately six months of court-authorized wiretaps, controlled purchases of narcotics and physical surveillance, revealed that Oliveras was supplying distribution quantities of heroin, fentanyl, cocaine and crack cocaine to multiple Hartford-area drug dealers, and also was selling drugs in smaller amounts to his own customers.  The investigation also revealed that Victor Perdomo, also known as “Domi,” was Oliveras’s primary source of supply of heroin and fentanyl.  Oliveras used multiple locations in Hartford to process, store and distribute narcotics.  In addition, Oliveras stored multiple firearms within a U-Haul storage unit in Hartford.

On July 19 and July 26, 2018, investigators arrested 15 of the 16 defendants on federal criminal complaints.  (Robert Campbell, also known as “Ant” and “Anthony,” has been in custody in Florida since February 2018.)  On July 19, investigators executed 10 search warrants and seized approximately five to six kilograms of suspected heroin and/or fentanyl, approximately 600 grams of crack cocaine, eight firearms, and other evidence of narcotics trafficking activity.

“It is alleged that this drug trafficking organization was responsible for the distribution of a significant amount of heroin and fentanyl, as well as other narcotics, in the Hartford region,” said U.S. Attorney Durham.  “As the epidemic of opioid abuse continues to ruin lives across our state, our office is committed to prosecuting heroin and fentanyl traffickers and seeking lengthy terms of incarceration.  I thank the DEA Task Force members, including the Hartford Police, for their work in this investigation, which removed more than five kilos of heroin and fentanyl, as well as eight firearms, from the streets of Hartford just last month.  Their ongoing efforts in this case and others have undoubtedly save lives.”

“DEA is committed to investigating and dismantling drug trafficking organizations that are responsible for distributing lethal drugs like fentanyl and heroin to the citizens of Hartford,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Boyle.  “Illegal drug distribution ravages the very foundations of our families and communities so every time we take fentanyl and heroin off the streets, lives are saved.  This investigation demonstrates the strength of collaborative local, state and federal law enforcement efforts in Connecticut and our strong partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office.”

The indictment charges the 16 defendants with one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute heroin, fentanyl, cocaine and cocaine base (“crack cocaine”).  If convicted of conspiracy, based on the type and quantity of narcotics charged, Oliveras, Perdomo and Quinones face a minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life; Jeremy Rodriguez, Rivera, DeJesus, Luis Rodriguez, Johnson, Ortiz, Jones and Spero face a minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years, and Campbell, Gonzalez, Roman, Cotto and Velasquez face a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.

In addition to the conspiracy count, Oliveras, Jeremy Rodriguez, Rivera, Quinones, DeJesus, Gonzalez, Roman, Cotto, Ortiz, Velasquez, Jones and Spero are each charged with one or more counts of possession and/or distribution of various controlled substances.

The indictment also charges Jeremy Rodriguez, Quinones and DeJesus with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.  If convicted of this offense, these defendants face a mandatory consecutive five-year term of imprisonment.  Oliveras and DeJesus are also charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.

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.

The Drug Enforcement Administration’s Hartford Task Force includes personnel from the DEA Hartford Resident Office and the Bristol, Hartford, East Hartford, Manchester, New Britain, Rocky Hill, Wethersfield, Windsor Locks and Willimantic Police Departments.  Agencies assisting the investigation include the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Connecticut Department of Correction, and the East Hartford, New Britain, Newington and West Hartford Police Departments.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey M. Stone.