Former New Haven Resident Sentenced to 5 Years in Federal Prison for Trafficking Narcotics

David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that JOSHUWA DIAZ, 34, of Bridgeport, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Vernon D. Oliver in Hartford to 60 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for trafficking narcotics.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Diaz was arrested on February 16, 2024, after a court-authorized search of his apartment on Orange Street in New Haven revealed approximately 75 grams of fentanyl, 278 grams of cocaine, 47 grams of crack cocaine, and a loaded P80 handgun with no serial number (“ghost gun”).

On February 11, 2025, Diaz pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine, cocaine base (“crack”), and fentanyl.

Diaz, who is released on a $50,000 bond, is required to report to prison on September 10.

In April 2013, Diaz was sentenced in New Haven federal court to 78 months of imprisonment for distributing heroin.

This investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration New Haven Task Force, which includes members from the DEA, U.S. Marshals Service, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, Connecticut State Police and the New Haven, Waterbury, East Haven, Branford, West Haven, Ansonia, Meriden, Naugatuck, and Shelton Police Departments.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan J. Keefe.