United States Drug Enforcement Administration

HARTFORD, Conn. - Michael J. Ferguson 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 Luis Cedillo, 33, last residing in Sylmar, Calif., pleaded guilty today in Hartford federal court to one count of possession with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on November 14, 2013, members of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New Haven Task Force followed a white Cadillac Escalade that Cedillo was driving to a store where Cedillo purchased items used in the processing and packaging of illegal drugs.  After the Escalade traveled to a garage in Wolcott, agents approached Cedillo, secured him in handcuffs and received consent from the owner of the property to search the garage.  Agents observed that the vehicle, which was raised on a lift, had sheet-rock screws coming through the metal of the bottom of the car.  After a canine alert, agents located and opened a trap in the rear of the vehicle and retrieved approximately six kilograms of heroin.  Cedillo was arrested at the time.  A subsequent search of a residence in Danbury connected to Cedillo revealed approximately $400,000 in cash.  Cedillo has been detained since his arrest.  He is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Robert N. Chatigny on August 10, 2016.

This matter has been investigated by the DEA’s New Haven Task Force, which includes participants from the New Haven, Hamden, West Haven, North Haven, East Haven, Branford, Ansonia, Derby and Meriden Police Departments, and the U.S. Marshals Service.