United States Drug Enforcement Administration

(HARTFORD, Conn. - Michael J. Ferguson, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England and Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that Christopher Cardona, also known as “Tito,” 30, of Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant in Hartford to 46 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for trafficking heroin.

According to court documents and statements made in court, a joint investigation into heroin trafficking in the Hartford area identified Cardona as a distributor of the drug.  On two occasions in March 2014, an individual working with law enforcement purchased approximately nine grams of heroin from Antonio Baez of Hartford.  The investigation revealed that Cardona and another individual supplied the heroin to Baez, and had been supplying Baez with heroin for approximately two years.

Cardona has been detained since his arrest on March 12, 2014.  On November 19, 2014, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin, and to distribute, heroin.

Baez has pleaded guilty and awaits sentencing.

This matter is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation and Hartford Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patrick Caruso and Brian Leaming.