New Britain man sentenced to more than 11 years in federal prison for trafficking cocaine
HARTFORD, Conn. – U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration New England Division Special Agent in Charge Brian D. Boyle and U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut John H. Durham announced that Luis Cirino, also known as “Gordo” and “G,” 42, of New Britain, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant in Hartford to 135 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for trafficking cocaine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Cirino coordinated the shipment of multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine through the U.S. Mail from Puerto Rico to various locations in Connecticut. Cirino and his associates then distributed the drug in central Connecticut and also in northeastern Pennsylvania. Investigators seized approximately 13 kilograms of cocaine during the investigation.
On Oct. 18, 2017, a grand jury in New Haven returned an indictment charging Cirino and seven associates with cocaine trafficking offenses. Cirino has been detained since his arrest on Oct. 25, 2017. On Jan. 22, 2019, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine.
In April 2007, Cirino was sentenced in New Haven federal court to 168 months of imprisonment and five years of supervised release for crack cocaine and firearm offenses. In 2008, his term of incarceration was reduced to 135 months, and in 2015 it was reduced to 120 months. He was released from custody in October 2015 and was on supervised release while he was involved in the cocaine trafficking conspiracy that led to the October 2017 indictment. Cirino still faces additional penalties for violating the conditions of his supervised release.
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, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, and the New Haven, Hamden, West Haven, North Haven, Branford, Ansonia, Meriden, Derby, Middletown, Naugatuck and Waterbury Police Departments.
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