New Haven Man Sentenced to 6 Years in Federal Prison for Trafficking Heroin, Violating Supervised Release

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ROBERTO ANTHONY TORRES, also known as “Toni,” 52, of New Haven, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer in New Haven to 72 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for distributing heroin.

According to court documents and statements made in court, an investigation headed by the Drug Enforcement Administration New Haven Task Force and New Haven Police Department revealed that Malbin Rubiera-Herrera, also known as “Chaca,” acquired heroin and cocaine from sources in Connecticut and New Jersey and distributed the drugs through a network of associates, including Torres, in the greater New Haven area.  Between October and December 2018, investigators made controlled purchases of heroin and cocaine from Rubiera-Herrera.  Subsequent court-authorized wiretaps revealed a widespread narcotics trafficking conspiracy that involved the trafficking of kilogram-quantities of heroin into Connecticut.

Between January and April 2019, Torres was intercepted numerous times on recorded calls ordering distribution quantities of heroin from Rubiera-Herrera.  After one call, investigators observed Rubiera-Herrera and Torres completing the transaction at Torres’ New Haven residence.

On June 5, 2019, a grand jury returned a superseding indictment charging Torres, Rubiera-Herrera and 12 other individuals with heroin, cocaine and fentanyl trafficking offenses.

Torres has been detained since his arrest on June 10.  On September 24, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with the intent to distribute, 100 grams or more of heroin.

A search of Rubiera-Herrera’s residence at the time of arrest on April 30, 2019, revealed approximately 300 grams of fentanyl.  He pleaded guilty on June 20.

In July 2016, Torres was sentenced in Bridgeport federal court to 24 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for distributing heroin.  He was released from prison in April 2017.

Judge Meyer sentenced Torres to 48 months of imprisonment for distributing heroin, and a consecutive 24 months of imprisonment for violating the conditions of his supervised release.

This matter is being investigated by the DEA New Haven Task Force and the New Haven Police Department, with the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Marshals Service, Connecticut State Police, Connecticut Department of Correction, East Haven Police Department, Easton Police Department, Orange Police Department, and the Cape May County (N.J.) Prosecutor’s Office, Gangs, Guns and Narcotics Task Force.

The DEA New Haven Task Force includes participants from the U.S. Marshals Service, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, and the New Haven, Hamden, West Haven, North Haven, Branford, Ansonia, Meriden, Derby, Middletown, Naugatuck and Waterbury Police Departments.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jocelyn Courtney Kaoutzanis and S. Dave Vatti.