Hartford Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison for Distributing Cocaine and Crack

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JOSE RODRIGUEZ, also known as “Juice,” 48, of Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer in New Haven to 60 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release, for trafficking cocaine and crack cocaine.

According to court documents and statements made in court, this matter stems from a law enforcement investigation headed by the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Violent Crimes Task Force and the Hartford Police Department’s Vice and Narcotics Division targeting gang violence and narcotics trafficking in Hartford.  In May 2018, Rodriguez and nine other alleged members and associates of the Almighty Latin Kings Nation were charged with offenses related to the distribution of heroin, fentanyl and crack cocaine in Hartford.  Four of the defendants also were charged with firearm offenses.

The investigation, which included court-authorized wiretaps, revealed that Rodriguez distributed crack and powder cocaine that he purchased from an ALKN member.

Rodriguez’s criminal history includes more than 20 convictions.  In September 2017, he was shot four times during an apparent drug robbery.

Rodriguez has been detained since his arrest on May 7, 2018.  On September 25, 2018, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine base (“crack”).

The FBI’s Northern Connecticut Violent Crimes Task Force includes members of the Hartford Police Department, East Hartford Police Department, Connecticut State Police and Connecticut Department of Correction.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian P. Leaming.