United States Drug Enforcement Administration

HARTFORD, Conn. - Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England, today announced that DAVID QUINTANA, 35, of East Hartford, and EDGAR QUINTANA, 33, of Hartford, have been charged by indictment with fentanyl distribution offenses.  The indictment also charges David Quintana with possession of a firearms by a felon.

As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, in March and April, investigators made multiple controlled purchases of fentanyl from David Quintana, and his brother, Edgar Quintana.  David and Edgar Quintana were arrested on April 17, 2023.  On that date, a search of David Quintana’s residence revealed two .40 caliber handguns that had been reported stolen, and one 9mm handgun with an obliterated serial number.  A search of Edgar Martinez’s residence revealed distribution quantities of fentanyl, cocaine and crack cocaine.

David Quintana’s criminal history includes felony convictions for narcotics offenses.  It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce.

On April 25, 2023, a federal grand jury in New Haven returned an indictment charging David and Edgar Quintana with one count of conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, 40 grams or more of fentanyl, an offense that carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years.  The indictment also charges them with multiple counts of possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, fentanyl, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.  David Quintana is also charged with possession of firearms by a felon, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 15 years.

David and Edgar Quintana appeared today before in Hartford federal court and pleaded not guilty to the charges.  David Quintana is detained and Edgar Quintana is released on a $150,000 bond.

U.S. Attorney Avery stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt.  Charges are only allegations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This investigation is being conducted by the DEA’s Hartford Task Force, which includes personnel from the DEA Hartford Resident Office, the Connecticut State Police, and the Bristol, Hartford, East Hartford, Enfield, Manchester, New Britain, Rocky Hill, Wethersfield, Windsor Locks and Willimantic Police Departments.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan J. Keefe and Robert S. Dearington through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program.  OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.  Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.