New Haven Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Trafficking Heroin

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ANTONIO GONZALEZ, 47, of New Haven, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer in New Haven to 120 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for trafficking heroin.

According to court documents and statements made in court, the DEA’s New Haven Tactical Diversion Squad targeted a New Haven-based heroin trafficking organization led by Gonzalez and his brother, Bienvenido Gonzalez.  The investigation, which included court-authorized wiretaps, controlled purchases of narcotics and physical and video surveillance, revealed that the Gonzalez brothers regularly purchased bulk quantities of heroin from suppliers located in the Bronx, New York, and sold the heroin through a network of redistributors in New Haven and elsewhere.  The investigation resulted in federal charges against 23 individuals, including four other brothers of Antonio and Bienvenido Gonzalez.

Antonio Gonzalez, Bienvenido Gonzalez and several co-defendants were arrested on March 15, 2017.  On that date, investigators seized a kilogram of heroin from a vehicle that a co-defendant had driven to a stash house used by Bienvenido Gonzalez, and more than 400 grams of heroin and $10,000 in cash from the stash house itself.  Investigators also seized $1,500 from Antonio Gonzalez, and approximately $119,000 from a bank account in Puerto Rico connected to Antonio Gonzalez.

The investigation revealed that Bienvenido Gonzalez used the proceeds from the heroin trafficking enterprise to purchase a New Haven barbershop, fund a drag racing team, purchase roosters for cockfighting, gamble, and travel.

Antonio Gonzalez has been detained since his arrest.  On January 18, 2018, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and distribution of, one kilogram or more of heroin

Bienvenido Gonzalez pleaded guilty to the same charge and, on March 28, 2018, he was sentenced to 144 months of imprisonment.

The DEA’s New Haven Tactical Diversion Squad includes officers from the Bristol, Hamden, Milford, Monroe, New Haven, Shelton, Wallingford and Wilton Police Departments.  The New Haven, East Haven and West Haven Police Departments, together with the U.S. Coast Guard, provided valuable assistance to the investigation.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Natasha M. Freismuth and Patrick F. Caruso.