John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England, today announced that a grand jury New Haven returned an indictment yesterday charging WILTON REYNOSO, also known as Manuel Jose Echevarria-Lugo, 47, a citizen of the Dominican Republic residing in Waterbury; TYSON QUINONES, also known as “Ty,” 34, of Waterbury; and DEESHAWN PITTMAN, also known as “Low,” 30, of New Haven, with trafficking heroin.

As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, in late 2019, the DEA New Haven Task Force began an investigation into the distribution of heroin in New Haven.  The investigation, which included thousands of intercepted communications over court-authorized wiretaps, revealed that Pittman and others were distributing heroin and crack cocaine to a large customer base in New Haven County.  Pittman was supplied with heroin by Quinones, who also distributed heroin and cocaine to his own customers in and around Waterbury.  Quinones was supplied with heroin from Reynoso, who received large quantities of heroin from a source in New York.

On June 13, 2020, investigators sought to arrest the three defendants after intercepting a series of calls that, as alleged, indicted that Reynoso and Quinones were planning to conduct a 200-gram heroin transaction, with a portion of the drugs possibly destined for Pittman.  On that date, Pittman was arrested at his residence, a search of which revealed approximately 50 grams of a mixture of suspected heroin and fentanyl, and more than $15,000 in cash.  Quinones was arrested at the anticipated meeting place.  A subsequent search of his residence revealed a stolen, loaded 9mm pistol.  Reynoso fled from the meeting scene in his vehicle, which was found abandoned nearby.  He was arrested a short time later after he returned to the vehicle.  A search of a location in Waterbury that Reynoso used to store, process and package narcotics revealed more than kilogram of a mixture of suspected heroin and fentanyl.

Each of the defendants, who are detained, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 100 grams of more of heroin, an offense that carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years.

U.S. Attorney Durham noted that the investigation is ongoing, and additional charges are possible.  He further noted 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 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 case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys H. Gordon Hall and John T. Pierpont, Jr.