Meriden Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison for Role in Cocaine Trafficking Ring

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that RIGOBERTO HERNANDEZ, also known as “Tito,” 36, of Meriden, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant in Hartford to 60 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for his role in a central Connecticut cocaine and crack cocaine trafficking ring.

This matter stems from a joint investigation headed by the DEA New Haven Task Force that has included the use of court-authorized wiretaps, controlled purchases of crack cocaine, and seizures of cocaine and cash proceeds.  The investigation revealed that an associate of HERNANDEZ was operating a cocaine and crack cocaine trafficking ring while he was incarcerated in state custody.  Consensually recorded prison calls established that HERNANDEZ began servicing his associate’s drug customers after his associate was arrested.

On July 20, 2017, a grand jury in New Haven returned a nine-count indictment charging HERNANDEZ and 10 other individuals with various offenses.  HERNANDEZ was arrested on July 26, 2017.  On December 19, he pleaded guilty to one count of with conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and 28 grams or more of cocaine base (“crack”).

HERNANDEZ has been detained since his arrest.

This matter is being investigated by the DEA New Haven Task Force, U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Middletown and New Britain Police Departments.  The DEA New Haven Task Force includes participants from the New Haven, Hamden, West Haven, North Haven, East Haven, Branford, Ansonia, Meriden and Derby Police Departments, and the U.S. Marshals Service.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney H. Gordon Hall.