Citizen of Mexico Pleads Guilty to Trafficking Heroin and Fentanyl, Illegally Reentering U.S.

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Michael J. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England, announced that JESUS GOMEZ-VALDIVIA, 38, a citizen of Mexico, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Alker Meyer in New Haven to drug trafficking and immigration offenses.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on October 12, 2017, the Drug Enforcement Administration received information that GOMEZ was couriering narcotics on a flight that had departed Los Angeles International Airport and would be arriving at Tweed New Haven Airport later that day.  DEA Agents traveled to Tweed New Haven Airport and, after the flight landed, identified two pieces of luggage that GOMEZ had checked.  Agents then met GOMEZ in the baggage claim area after he retrieved his luggage.  GOMEZ was arrested after investigators discovered that nearly two kilograms of heroin and approximately 500 grams of fentanyl had been sewed into one of the suitcases.

The investigation also revealed that GOMEZ was deported from the U.S. to Mexico in November 2001, and subsequently reentered the U.S. illegally.

GOMEZ pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, and one count of reentry of a removed alien, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of two years.  Judge Meyer scheduled sentencing for March 7, 2018.

GOMEZ has been detained since his arrest.

This matter is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration with the assistance of the New Haven Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rahul Kale.