United States Attorney's Office District of Connecticut
Press Release

EAST HAVEN MAN SENTENCED TO 40 MONTHS IN FEDERAL PRISON FOR INVOLVMENT IN DRUG RING

Nora R. Dannehy, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that NATE MINERVINI, 30, of East Haven, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to 40 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for conspiring to sell cocaine.  On August 5, 2009, MINERVINI pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine.

This matter stems from an Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (“OCDETF”) investigation dubbed “Operation Brass Deal,” which was spearheaded by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Safe Streets Task Force in New Haven.  As a result of the investigation, a total of 16 individuals have been charged with various narcotics offenses related to the large-scale distribution of cocaine, crack cocaine, marijuana and oxycodone in New Haven, East Haven, Branford, West Haven and other towns in New Haven County.  During the investigation, law enforcement officers seized more than $75,000 in cash, more than one kilogram of cocaine and approximately 750 grams of crack cocaine.

According to court documents and statements made in court, between February 2009 and May 2009, MINERVINI was involved in the purchase and distribution of more than one kilogram of cocaine.

This matter was investigated by the FBI New Haven Safe Streets Task Force, which is composed of representatives of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the New Haven Police Department, the Ansonia Police Department, the Milford Police Department, the East Haven Police Department, the Connecticut State Police and the Connecticut Department of Correction.  This matter is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Christopher M. Mattei and Robert M. Spector.

CONTACT:

U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
Tom Carson
(203) 821-3722
thomas.carson@usdoj.gov