Texas Man Sentenced to Prison for Trafficking Cocaine

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that SAUL ONZURES, 45, of El Paso, Texas, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in Bridgeport to 27 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for trafficking cocaine.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on January 20, 2018, an Orange County (N.Y) Sheriff conducted a motor vehicle stop of a tractor-trailer at a toll barrier on Interstate 87 in Newburgh, New York.  A search of the truck, which Onzures was driving revealed 10 kilograms of cocaine located in a black backpack under the mattress of the truck.  Francisco Castillo, also of El Paso, was a passenger in the truck.  The investigation revealed that the cocaine was destined for Henly Feliz Santiago in Torrington, Connecticut.

Onzures has been detained since his arrest.  On March 11, 2019, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute cocaine.

Castillo and Santiago also pleaded guilty.  On March 28, 2019, Castillo, 44, was sentenced to 25 months of imprisonment.  Santiago awaits sentencing.

This matter is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jocelyn Courtney Kaoutzanis.