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Press Release

Jewett City Man Sentenced To 41 Months In Prison For Distributing Heroin

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Connecticut

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that AARON MOORE, also known as “Natural Perfection Be-Allah,” 36, of Jewett City, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Janet Bond Arterton in New Haven to 41 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for distributing heroin.

In early 2012, Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), the U.S. Secret Service and the New London Police Department initiated an investigation to combat the large-scale trafficking of heroin and cocaine from the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico into and around southeastern Connecticut.  The investigation revealed that Luis Ariel Capellan Maldonado, also known as “Ariel,” and his associates were receiving heroin from sources in the Dominican Republic and distributing it throughout New London County.  MOORE was identified as a heroin customer of Emmanuel Blanco Balbuena, who regularly obtained distribution quantities of heroin from Capellan Maldonado.

On January 24, 2013, members of the Norwich Police Department arranged to make a controlled purchase of heroin from MOORE at a Goodwill Store in Norwich.  After entering the store, MOORE apparently identified officers and quickly discarded a plastic bag onto one of the shelves in the store.  Using the store’s video surveillance system, officers were able to find the plastic bag, which contained approximately 24 grams of heroin packaging material.  A subsequent search of MOORE vehicle revealed $20,020 in cash that had been hidden in a computer tower in the car.

MOORE has been detained since his arrest.  On January 6, 2014, he pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute heroin.

MOORE’s criminal history includes multiple drug-related convictions, and convictions for robbery and assault.

More than 100 individuals have been charged with federal and state offenses as a result of this investigation.

Capellan Maldonado and Balbuena have pleaded guilty.  On April 23, 2014, Balbuena was sentenced to 30 months of imprisonment.  Capellan Maldonado awaits sentencing.  

This matter is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations; U.S. Secret Service; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Air and Marine; Connecticut State Police; New London Police Department, Norwich Police Department, Waterford Police Department, Groton Town Police Department, East Lyme Police Department and Putnam Police Department.  The United States Marshals Service; ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations; Drug Enforcement Administration; HSI Assistant Attaché, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic; HSI Arecibo, Puerto Rico Resident Office;  Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation; Connecticut Department of Correction, Parole and Community Services; and the Groton City, Willimantic, New Haven and Bristol Police Departments have provided valuable assistance to the investigation.

The federal cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alina P. Reynolds, Sarah P. Karwan and Henry K. Kopel.  The state cases are being prosecuted by the State’s Attorney for the New London Judicial District and Senior Assistant State’s Attorneys Paul Narducci and Stephen Carney.

PUBLIC AFFAIRS CONTACT:

U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
Tom Carson
(203) 821-3722
thomas.carson@usdoj.gov

Updated March 18, 2015