United States Attorney's Office District of Connecticut
Press Release

HARTFORD MAN SENTENCED TO FEDERAL PRISON FOR DISTRIBUTING HEROIN AND COCAINE

David B. Fein, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ARMANDO LAUREANO, also known as “Pepin,” 35, of Allen Place, Hartford, was sentenced today by Senior United States District Judge Warren W. Eginton in Bridgeport to 43 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for his participation in a Hartford-area narcotics trafficking ring.  On March 19, 2010, LAUREANO pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin.

This matter stems from “Operation Solid Gold,” a joint law enforcement investigation headed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Northern Connecticut Violent Crimes Task Force.  The year-long investigation included the use of court-authorized wiretaps, controlled purchases of cocaine and heroin, and physical surveillance.  As a result of the investigation, 55 individuals were charged with various offenses related to the distribution of cocaine and heroin in and around Hartford.

According to court documents and statements made in court, between September and November 2008, investigators intercepted calls over a cell phone used by Reynaldo Laureano, also known as “Pichy, ” the older brother of ARMANDO LAUREANO, that, along with physical surveillance and other information developed during this investigation, revealed that ARMANDO LAUREANO distributed cocaine and heroin in the area of Broad Street and Madison Street in Hartford.  ARMANDO worked closely with his brother in drug distribution, and they were regularly intercepted over the monitored telephone discussing the purchase and sale of cocaine and heroin.

On January 22, 2010, Reynaldo Laureano was sentenced to a prison term of 97 months.

This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Northern Connecticut Violent Crimes Task Force, the Statewide Cooperative Crime Control Task Force of the Connecticut State Police and the Hartford Police Department, with assistance from the Statewide Organized Crime Investigative Task Force of the Connecticut State Police, Connecticut State Police, Troop H, and the Connecticut Department of Correction.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Geoffrey M. Stone and Brian P. Leaming.

CONTACT:

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