News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 28, 2008

Bridgeport Resident Sentenced to Four Years in Federal Prison for Cocaine and Crack Cocaine Trafficking

JAN 28 -- 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 ROBINDRANATH PERSAD, 44, a citizen of Trinidad last residing on Lincoln Avenue in Bridgeport, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to 48 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release. On January 24, 2007, PERSAD pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and one count of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base (“crack cocaine”).

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, which employed court-authorized wiretaps, court-authorized audio and video surveillance and several controlled purchases of cocaine, 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, including ROBINDRANATH PERSAD, and his brother, Ryan Persad.

In April 2006, the DEA HIDTA Task Force members arrested PERSAD, Robles, and several other individuals involved in this narcotics trafficking ring, including Ryan Persad. 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.

On February 2, 2007, Robles pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, five kilograms or more of cocaine. In pleading guilty, Robles also admitted that he attempted to obstruct justice by threatening witnesses involved in this investigation. On May 3, 2007, Judge Underhill sentenced Robles to 188 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release. Ryan Persad pleaded guilty on June 19, 2007, to one count of conspiring to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and one count of illegal reentry into the United States. On January 10, Judge Underhill sentenced Ryan Persad to 130 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release.

PERSAD faces deportation proceedings upon his release from federal prison.