Two Men Sentenced to Federal Prison for Trafficking Narcotics in Southwestern Connecticut

David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that two men involved in a southwestern Connecticut narcotics trafficking ring were sentenced last month by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford.  On October 17, RONALD VINCENT, 30, of Stratford, was sentenced to 84 months of imprisonment and four years of supervised release, and on October 20, MARQUIS JONES, 30, of Derby, was sentenced to 40 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in 2022, the FBI Bridgeport Safe Streets Task Force, which was investigating gang activity in the South End and West Side of Bridgeport, identified Christian Pichardo as a supplier of various narcotics to gang members and other drug distributors.  During the investigation, investigators intercepted calls and text messages over court-authorized wiretaps between Pichardo and his associates, including Vincent and Jones, made controlled purchases of narcotics, and seized drugs from members of the conspiracy and their drug customers.  Some of the drugs seized during the investigation had been cut with fentanyl analogues, nitazines, and xylazine.  Nitazines are synthetic opioids stronger than fentanyl, and xylazine is a large animal tranquilizer.

Vincent and Jones resided in Bridgeport during the investigation.  Vincent was a close associate of Pichardo who primarily trafficked fentanyl.  Jones trafficked fentanyl to crack cocaine to gang members and others.

Vincent and Jones were each arrested on August 5, 2024, and subsequently pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances.  Released on $100,000 bonds, they are required to report to prison on December 16 and January 7, respectively.

Pichardo pleaded guilty to a related charge and, on July 14, 2025, was sentenced to 12 years of imprisonment.

This matter has been investigated by the FBI’s Bridgeport Safe Streets Task Force, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bridgeport, Stratford, and Norwalk Police Departments.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen L. Peck through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program.  Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.