Milford Man Guilty of Marijuana Trafficking Offenses

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that a jury in New Haven has found Robert Capelli, 33, of Milford, guilty of offenses related to his involvement in a large-scale marijuana trafficking conspiracy.  A trial before U.S. District Judge Janet Bond Arterton began on July 22 and the jury returned a split verdict late yesterday.

According to the evidence presented during the trial and in other court proceedings, in 2016, the Federal Aviation Administration began investigating a Piper single-engine aircraft, owned by Donald Burns of Milford, that was making regular flights between Stratford, Connecticut, and northern California via the southwest United States.  On June 28, 2017, Burns flew the aircraft from northern California to Lubbock, Texas.  The next day, Burns flew the aircraft from Texas to Arkansas, and then to West Virginia and Connecticut, where he landed in the evening at Sikorsky Airport in Stratford.  After it landed, a law enforcement search of the plane revealed approximately 400 pounds of marijuana in vacuum-sealed packages, and Burns was arrested.  Investigators determined that the marijuana was intended for Capelli and others to distribute in Connecticut.  Capelli and his associate, Scott Bodnar of Ansonia, were arrested later that day.

The investigation revealed that, over a period of approximately two years, Capelli and his associates earned millions of dollars by trafficking nearly two tons of marijuana from California to Connecticut.   Members of the conspiracy also laundered more than $6 million to purchase marijuana in California, maintain properties for distribution in Connecticut, pay Burns to transport the marijuana, and for other expenses related to the conspiracy.

Capelli was convicted of one count of conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, 100 kilograms or more of marijuana, and one count of possession with intent to distribute 100 kilograms or more of marijuana.  Capelli was found not guilty of one count of conspiracy to launder monetary instruments, and one count of money laundering.  Judge Arterton scheduled sentencing for October 25, 2019, at which time Capelli faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 80 years.

In addition, Capelli has forfeited approximately $90,000 to date, and additional forfeiture proceedings are pending.

On May 2, 2019, Bodnar pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, 1,000 kilograms or more of marijuana, and one count of conspiracy to launder monetary instruments.  On May 3, Capelli’s associate, Terrell Givens of Beacon Falls, pleaded guilty to the same charges.  On May 6, Burns pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, 1,000 kilograms or more of marijuana.  In pleading guilty, the defendants also agreed to the forfeiture of cash and various items, including Burns’ Piper aircraft, a 2012 Toyota Camry belonging to Bodnar, and a 2009 Jaguar XF and approximately $8,000 in jewelry belonging to Givens.

This matter has been investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New Haven Task Force, the Federal Aviation Administration’s Law Enforcement Assistance Program (LEAP), the Customs and Border Protection’s Air and Marine Operations Center, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Stratford, Derby and West Haven Police Departments, and the Second Judicial Drug Task Force in Jonesboro, Arkansas.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rahul Kale and Marc Silverman.