United States Drug Enforcement Administration

HARTFORD, CT – Brian D. Boyle Special Agent in Charge of the DEA’s New England Division and John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that Orlando Quiros, also known as “O” and “Gordo, 42, formerly of New Britain and Suffield, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant in Hartford to 136 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for cocaine trafficking and firearm possession offenses.   

This matter stems from a joint investigation headed by the DEA New Haven Task Force into a central Connecticut cocaine and crack cocaine trafficking ring.  The investigation, which included the use of court-authorized wiretaps, controlled purchases of crack cocaine and seizures of cocaine and cash proceeds, revealed that Westley Northrup, also known as “Piff,” operated a cocaine and crack cocaine trafficking ring while he was incarcerated in state custody at the Cheshire Correctional Institution.  Northrup conspired with Carlos Roman, also known as “Frizz,” of Middletown, to purchase cocaine from suppliers, including Omar Rivera, convert some of the cocaine to crack cocaine, and then distribute crack and cocaine through a network of dealers. 

Further investigation revealed that Rivera, of New Britain, was being supplied with cocaine by Quiros, who regularly received packages containing multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine through the U.S. Mail from Puerto Rico.  Quiros’s operation was assisted by individuals who agreed to accept delivery of the packages. 

On July 12, 2017, law enforcement officers intercepted and seized approximately $210,000 in cash that Quiros had in a vehicle he was driving from Connecticut to New York.  Quiros and others involved in this narcotics trafficking conspiracy were arrested on July 26, 2017.  On that date, investigators executed multiple search warrants and seized approximately seven kilograms of cocaine, several pounds of marijuana, four firearms, and nearly $100,000 in cash.  One of the firearms, and approximately $90,000 in cash, were found in a Hartford apartment that Quiros maintained.  Investigators also seized from Quiros a 2016 Maserati and 2016 BMW 6 Series. 

On July 17, 2018, Quiros pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, and one count of possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon.

Northrup, Roman and Rivera pleaded guilty to related charges.  On April 12, 2018, Roman was sentenced to 120 months of imprisonment.  Northrup and Rivera await sentencing. 

This matter has been investigated by the DEA New Haven Task Force, U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Middletown and New Britain Police Departments.  The DEA New Haven Task Force includes participants from the U.S. Marshals Service, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, and the New Haven, Hamden, West Haven, North Haven, Branford, Ansonia, Meriden, Derby and Middletown Police Departments.