United States Drug Enforcement Administration

HARTFORD, Conn. - Michael J. Ferguson Special Agent in Charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration and Deidre M. Daly United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that a federal jury in Hartford has found Wilmer Antonio Gomez-Rodriguez, 29, a citizen of the Dominican Republic last residing in New York, New York, guilty of heroin trafficking offenses.  The trial began on September 8 and the jury returned guilty verdicts on two counts of an indictment yesterday.

According to trial testimony and the evidence disclosed during the trial, this matter stems from an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Bridgeport High Intensity Drug Trafficking (HIDTA) and the Norwalk Police Department into suspected cocaine and heroin distribution by Omar Andrade.   In September 2014, Andrade agreed to provide one kilogram of heroin to a DEA Task Force officer acting in an undercover capacity.  Andrade, Gomez and Joel A. Estrella-Disla, were arrested on September 30 after they delivered approximately one kilogram of heroin to a pre-arranged location in Norwalk.

The jury found Gomez guilty of one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, one kilogram or more of heroin, an offense that carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life.  The jury also found Gomez guilty of one count of possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, 100 grams or more of heroin, an offense that carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life.  He is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant on December 3, 2015. Gomez, who had been released on bond, was remanded at the conclusion of the trial.

In August 2015, Andrade and Estrella each pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, 100 grams or more of heroin, an offense that carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years.  They await sentencing.

Andrade, a citizen of Mexico last residing in Norwalk, has been detained since his arrest.  Estrella, a citizen of the Dominican Republic last residing in New York, New York, is released on a $500,000 bond.