United States Drug Enforcement Administration

APR 12 - 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 Besim Muriqi, 31, of Stamford, pleaded guilty in Hartford federal court to one count of conspiracy to distribute oxycodone.

This matter stems from an investigation headed by the DEA’s Bridgeport High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force and Stamford Police Department, with the assistance of the Fairfield Police Department.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in January 2015, Stamford Police received information that Amonda Mendez, also known as “M-Dot” and “Dot,” was distributing a variety of narcotics in Stamford.  Between February and April 2015, the DEA Task Force conducted four controlled purchases of narcotics from Mendez.  A subsequent court-authorized wiretap confirmed that Mendez was distributing heroin, cocaine, crack cocaine, marijuana and prescription pills, including Percocet and Xanax.  In May 2015, task force agents intercepted several narcotics-related calls between Muriqi and Mendez, and also surveilled them as they traveled together to the Bronx, New York, to purchase narcotics.

Mendez was arrested on May 17, 2016, after the wiretap revealed that she was injured the previous day in a shoot-out with another individual and she might be preparing to retaliate further.  Muriqi then left Connecticut.

In September 2016, agents received information that Muriqi was selling oxycodone in the Stamford area.  On September 14, 2016, investigators made a controlled purchase of 10 30mg oxycodone pills from Muriqi.  On October 26, 2016, investigators conducted a traffic stop of Muriqi’s vehicle in Stamford.  A search of the vehicle revealed 558 30mg oxycodone pills, and Muriqi was arrested on state narcotics charges.  Two days later, a search of Muriqi’s Stamford apartment revealed approximately 400 Valium tablets, 985 Xanax tablets, 15 grams of cocaine, two digital scales and narcotics packaging materials.

Muriqi is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant on July 19, 2017, at which time he faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.  Muriqi is released on a $150,000 bond.

Mendez pleaded guilty to heroin distribution and firearm offenses and, on June 23, 2016, was sentenced to 120 months of imprisonment.

The DEA’s Bridgeport High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force includes members from the Bridgeport, Stamford, Stratford, Norwalk, Milford and Trumbull Police Departments, and the Connecticut State Police.