News
Release
FOR
IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
June
20, 2007
Two
Bridgeport
Men
Involved
In Cocaine
Distribution
Ring
Plead
Guilty
JUN
20 --
June
W. Stansbury,
Special
Agent
in Charge
of the
Drug
Enforcement
Administration
in New
England
and
Kevin
J. O’Connor,
United
States
Attorney
for
the
District
of Connecticut,
today
announced
that
two
individuals
pleaded
guilty
yesterday,
June
19,
before
United
States
District
Judge
Stefan
R. Underhill
in Bridgeport
to charges
related
to their
participation
in a
Bridgeport-based
cocaine
distribution
ring
headed
by Luis
Robles. RYAN
PERSAD,
also
known
as “Indio,” age
45,
of Bridgeport,
pleaded
guilty
to conspiracy
to possess
with
intent
to distribute
five
kilograms
or more
of cocaine,
and
illegally
re-entering
the
United
States. IGNACIO
VASQUEZ,
also
known
as “Chino,” age
32,
of Bridgeport,
pleaded
guilty
to using
a telephone
to facilitate
a cocaine
distribution
conspiracy.
PERSAD
and VASQUEZ
entered
their
guilty
pleas
one day
before
their
trial
was scheduled
to begin.
According
to documents
filed
with the
Court
and statements
made in
court,
beginning
in mid-2005,
the Drug
Enforcement
Administration’s
Bridgeport
High Intensity
Drug Trafficking
Area (HIDTA)
Task Force
initiated
an investigation
into suspected
distribution
of cocaine
in the
Bridgeport
area by
Luis Robles
and his
associates.
The investigation
employed
court-authorized
wiretaps,
court-authorized
audio
and video
surveillance
and several
controlled
purchases
of cocaine.
The investigation
established
that the
ring primarily
operated
out of East
End Auto,
an auto
shop owned
by Robles
located
at 1357
Barnum
Avenue
in Bridgeport.
Robles
obtained
cocaine
from a
source
of supply
located
in the
New York
metropolitan
area.
Typically,
the cocaine
was transported
by automobile
to the
Bridgeport
area to
Robles
or one
of his
associates,
and then
redistributed
in and
around
Bridgeport
to other
dealers.
The
investigation
established
that Walter
Harrison
was supplied
with cocaine
by Robles
and Raul
Reyes,
which
he redistributed
from his
autobody
garage
on Berkshire
Avenue
in Bridgeport.
The
investigation
revealed
that PERSAD
was also
supplied
with several
kilograms
of cocaine
by Robles
and Reyes,
and that
he redistributed
the drugs
in the
Bridgeport
area.
The investigation
further
revealed
that VASQUEZ
acted
as a lookout
for Walter
Harrison’s
distribution
operation
on Berkshire
Avenue.
Using
a walkie-talkie
provided
by Harrison,
VASQUEZ
gave warnings
to Harrison
and his
associates
when police
were in
the area.
PERSAD,
VASQUEZ,
Robles,
Reyes,
Harrison
and others
were arrested
in April
2006 by
DEA HIDTA
Task Force
members.
In connection
with the
arrests,
Task Force
members
conducted
searches
at 11
locations
in Bridgeport,
Derby
and Naugatuck,
Connecticut,
and seized
more than
1.5 kilograms
of cocaine,
more than
500 grams
of crack,
one loaded
semi-automatic
handgun
that was
found
in a closet
in Robles’ residence,
one bulletproof
vest,
six automobiles,
and more
than $125,000
in United
States
currency.
PERSAD
faces
a mandatory
minimum
term of
imprisonment
of 10
years,
a maximum
term of
life and
a fine
of up
to $4,000,000
of the
narcotics
trafficking
charge,
and a
maximum
term of
imprisonment
of 10
years
and a
fine of
up to
$250,000
on the
immigration
charge.
VASQUEZ
faces
a maximum
term of
imprisonment
of four
years
and a
fine of
up to
$250,000.
Robles,
Reyes
and Harrison
have each
pleaded
guilty
to charges
related
to their
roles
in this
narcotics
trafficking
ring.
On May
3, Judge
Underhill
sentenced
Robles
to 188
months
of imprisonment,
followed
by five
years
of supervised
release.
On May
30, Judge
Underhill
sentenced
WALTER
HARRISON
to 120
months
of imprisonment
followed
by eight
years
of supervised
release.
Reyes
awaits
sentencing.
This
case was
investigated
by the
Drug Enforcement
Administration’s
Bridgeport
High Intensity
Drug Trafficking
Area Task
Force.
Members
of the
Ansonia,
Bridgeport,
Derby,
Easton,
Greenwich,
New Canaan,
Newtown,
Norwalk,
Stamford,
Stratford
and West
Haven
Police
Departments
participated
in the
investigation.
|