News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 12, 2004

Federal Drug Demand Reduction
Initiative Results in Guilty Plea and Two Arrests

Mark R. Trouville, 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, announced today that RONDY MURPHY, of Greenwich, Connecticut, entered a plea of guilty today to attempted possession of heroin. MURPHY's guilty plea was accepted by United States Magistrate Judge Holly B. Fitzsimmons in federal court in Bridgeport.

U.S. Attorney O'Connor explained that MURPHY was arrested on January 31, 2004, when he attempted to purchase heroin from an officer of the Stamford Police Department acting in an undercover capacity. MURPHY was initially taken into custody by state authorities. On February 4, 2004, he was charged by criminal complaint with attempted possession of heroin. On that same date, he appeared before Magistrate Judge Fitzsimmons and was ordered released on bond and strict conditions of release that included random urinalysis and drug treatment.

As a consequence of today's guilty plea, MURPHY faces up to one year in prison, up to one year of supervised release to follow any period of imprisonment imposed, a mandatory minimum fine of $1,000 and a maximum fine of $100,000, the costs of investigation and prosecution, and a mandatory $25.00 fine. Pursuant to a plea agreement, MURPHY agreed to donate the money he was going to use to purchase the heroin to the Stamford Police Athletic League.

In addition to the guilty plea entered today, U.S. Attorney O'Connor announced the federal arrest of two additional drug purchasers. JAMES PEACE, age 41, of 225 Main Street, Bridgeport and ANGELO MANDOLFO, age 40, of Success Park in Bridgeport were arrested yesterday when they negotiated the purchase and sale of a quantity of cocaine and subsequently attempted to purchase cocaine from an undercover officer. Both PEACE and MANDOLFO were charged by criminal complaint and were presented before Magistrate Judge William Garfinkel. Both were ordered released on strict conditions of release pending trial.

U.S. Attorney O'Connor cautioned that a criminal complaint is only a charge and that it will be the Government's burden to prove the guilt of PEACE and MANDOLFO at trial. These cases were investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Stamford Police Department, the Stratford Police Department, the Bridgeport Police Department and the Connecticut State Police Statewide Cooperative CrimeControl Task Force.