United States Attorney's Office District of Connecticut
Press Release

HARTFORD JURY FINDS STAMFORD MAN GUILTY OF FEDERAL CONSPIRACY AND CRACK DISTRIBUTION CHARGES

David B. Fein, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that a federal jury sitting in Hartford has found OKEIBA SADIO, also known as “Keys,” 30, of West Broad Street, Stamford, guilty of one count of conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base (“crack cocaine”) and one count of possession with intent to distribute fifty grams or more of cocaine base. Chief United States District Judge Alvin W. Thompson presided over the trial, which commenced on December 6, 2010 and lasted four days.

This matter stems from an Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (“OCDETF”) investigation dubbed “Operation Big Loot,” a six-month investigation that was spearheaded by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Stamford Police Department’s Narcotics and Organized Crime Squad.  As a result of the investigation, a total of 52 individuals have been charged in state and federal court with various narcotics offenses related to the distribution of cocaine and crack cocaine in the greater Stamford area.  During the investigation, law enforcement officers seized approximately $165,000 in cash, one kilogram of cocaine, two kilograms of crack cocaine, five firearms and several vehicles.

According to the evidence presented in court during the trial, between September and November 2009, SADIO traveled from Stamford to the Bronx on 11 separate occasions and purchased a total of just under 550 grams of crack cocaine, which he then redistributed to others.  At the time of his arrest on December 3, 2009, at his residence at 199 West Broad Street, SADIO was found in possession of approximately 94 grams of crack cocaine and $2300 in cash.

SADIO has been detained in federal custody since his arrest.

Chief Judge Thompson scheduled sentencing for March 3, 2011.  At sentencing, on each count, SADIO faces a maximum penalty of life in prison, a mandatory minimum term of 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $8 million.

This matter was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Bridgeport High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force – which is composed of members of the Bridgeport, Stamford, Norwalk and Stratford Police Departments, and the Connecticut State Police – the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Stamford Police Department’s Narcotics and Organized Crime Squad.  The United States Marshals Service, the Connecticut State Police, and the Norwalk, Bridgeport, Darien, Greenwich and Danbury Police Departments assisted in the arrests of several of the defendants.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Robert Spector and Jonathan Freimann.

CONTACT:

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