Groton Man Pleads Guilty to Selling Narcotics to Overdose Victim

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ULPIANO LUGO, 37, of Groton, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty today before Senior U.S. District Judge Alfred V. Covello in Hartford to one count of distribution of heroin and/or cocaine.

This matter stems from an ongoing statewide initiative targeting narcotics dealers who distribute heroin, fentanyl or opioids that cause death or serious injury to users.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on April 22, 2017, at approximately 7:37 p.m., Groton City Police and emergency medical personnel responded to a residence in Groton and found an unresponsive 37-year-old male in the bedroom of the residence.  The victim was pronounced deceased at the scene.  Officers collected from the bedroom one used syringe that was one-third full of an unknown liquid, a bent metal spoon with an off-white residue on the surface, one plastic bag with powder residue, and the victim’s cellphone.

Subsequent analysis of the powder residue revealed the presence of heroin and cocaine, and text messages from the victim’s cellphone confirmed that the victim had ordered narcotics from LUGO in the days before the victim’s death.

Judge Covello scheduled sentencing for August 1, 2018, at which time LUGO faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.  LUGO is detained pending sentencing.

This matter is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New Haven Task Force and the Groton City Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jocelyn Courtney Kaoutzanis.