Citizen of the Dominican Republic Sentenced to 57 Months in Prison for Trafficking "Black Tar" Heroin

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that HUGO TEJEDA, 26, a citizen of the Dominican Republic last residing in Waterbury, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in Bridgeport to 57 months of imprisonment for trafficking “black tar” heroin.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in August 2015, the Drug Enforcement Administration received information that an individual was in possession of approximately 1.5 kilograms of “black tar” heroin from Mexico and was searching for a buyer.  The DEA subsequently identified the individual as Tejeda, and Ivan Lerma and Vladimir Rodriguez-Lara as his associates.

On August 10 and August 20, 2018, Tejeda drove Lerma to meetings at which Lerma supplied black tar heroin to confidential informants working for the DEA.  On August 13, 2015, Tejeda drove Lerma to a meeting during which Lerma agreed to sell 1.5 kilograms of heroin to a confidential informant in exchange for $76,000.

Investigators arrested Tejeda, Lerma and Rodriguez-Lara on August 27, 2015, after they attempted to sell the 1.5 kilograms of heroin to the confidential informants.

On July 20, 2016, Tejeda pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, of heroin.

Lerma and Rodriguez-Lara pleaded guilty to related charges and were previously sentenced.

Tejeda faces immigration proceedings when he completes his prison term.

This investigation was conducted by the Bridgeport High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force, including personnel from the DEA, Connecticut State Police and the Norwalk, Stamford, Stratford and Milford Police Departments.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alina Reynolds.