United States Drug Enforcement Administration

HARTFORD, Conn. - Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JOSE MIGUEL VEGA-RIVERA, 50, of Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford to 90 months of imprisonment for trafficking fentanyl and cocaine.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in February 2021, the Drug Enforcement Administration identified Vega-Rivera as being involved in drug trafficking activity after he provided more than $72,000 in suspected narcotics proceeds to an undercover law enforcement officer.  On April 27, 2021, DEA Task Force investigators stopped a minivan Vega-Rivera was traveling in after he sold cocaine to an occupant of another vehicle.  Investigators found distribution quantities of fentanyl and cocaine in the minivan, and a related search of a New Britain apartment connected to Vega-Rivera revealed more than a kilogram of fentanyl, more than 500 grams of cocaine, two firearms, and approximately $52,000 in cash.

Vega-Rivera has been detained since April 27, 2021.  On November 29, 2021, he pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.

This investigation was conducted by the DEA’s Hartford Task Force, which includes personnel from the DEA Hartford Resident Office, the Connecticut State Police, and the Bristol, Hartford, East Hartford, Enfield, Manchester, New Britain, Rocky Hill, Wethersfield, Windsor Locks and Willimantic Police Departments.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey M. Stone through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program.  OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.  Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.