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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 03, 2008

New York Heroin Supplier Pleads Guilty

JUL 03 -- Kevin L. Lane Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforecment Administration in New England and Nora R. Dannehy, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that APOLINAR VICTORIO, also known as “Papito,” 50, of the Bronx, New York, pleaded guilty yesterday, July 2, before Senior United States District Judge Alfred V. Covello in Hartford to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin.

According to documents filed with the Court and statements made in court, VICTORIO supplied heroin to a New Haven drug trafficking organization headed by Benjamin Munoz, also known as Jose Cuebas. On August 10, 2005, a federal grand jury sitting in New Haven returned an Indictment charging VICTORIO, Munoz and seven others with narcotics conspiracy violations. The charges arose from an investigation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New Haven Drug Task Force, in conjunction with the Connecticut State Police, into the distribution of heroin throughout the New Haven area by Munoz and his associates.

A variety of traditional and sophisticated investigative techniques were employed by the Task Force, including court-authorized wiretaps, and undercover purchases and seizures of heroin. The investigation disclosed that the drug organization was obtaining large quantities of heroin in New York, from VICTORIO, and transporting it to New Haven for resale. Wiretap intercepts also revealed that, on one occasion, Munoz transported a kilogram of heroin to Philadelphia for VICTORIO.

Judge Covello has scheduled VICTORIO’s sentencing for September 25, 2008, at which time he faces a maximum term of imprisonment of life and a fine of up to $4 million.

Munoz also has pleaded guilty to the same heroin conspiracy charge. He awaits sentencing.

This matter was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New Haven Drug Task Force, which includes agents and officers from the DEA, the New Haven, West Haven, Meriden, and Branford police departments, and the Connecticut State Police.

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