New Haven Man Sentenced to Prison for Trafficking Cocaine
John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ROBERTO GONZALEZ, 39, of New Haven, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer in New Haven to 12 months and one day of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for his role in a New Haven narcotics trafficking ring.
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 ROBERTO GONZALEZ’s brothers, Bienvenido and Antonio Gonzalez. The investigation, which included court-authorized wiretaps, controlled purchases of narcotics and physical and video surveillance, revealed that Bienvenido and Antonio Gonzalez 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 also revealed that Bienvenido Gonzalez acquired and distributed bulk quantities of cocaine.
On March 10, 2017, ROBERTO GONZALEZ was intercepted on a wiretap ordering 250 grams of cocaine from Bienvenido Gonzalez.
ROBERTO GONZALEZ was arrested on March 16, 2017. On January 18, 2018, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, cocaine.
Bienvenido Gonzalez and Antonio Gonzalez pleaded guilty to related charges. On March 28, Bienvenido Gonzalez was sentenced to 144 months of imprisonment. Antonio Gonzalez awaits sentencing.
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.