News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 10, 2004

Bridgeport Man Pleads Guilty to Cocaine Possession

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 that ANGELO MANDOLFO, age 41 of 37-177 Success Park, Bridgeport, Connecticut, pleaded guilty today to attempted possession of cocaine. MANDOLFO's guilty plea was accepted by United States Magistrate Judge William I. Garfinkel in federal court in Bridgeport.

U.S. Attorney O'Connor explained that MANDOLFO was arrested on February 11, 2004, when he attempted to purchase cocaine from an officer of the Stratford Police Department. The Stratford Police Officer was working in conjunction with a Drug Enforcement Administration led task force at the time. Following his arrest, MANDOLFO appeared before Magistrate Judge Garfinkel and was ordered released on bond with strict conditions of release pending trial.

As a consequence of today's guilty plea, MANDOLFO 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, MANDOLFO agreed to pay the costs of investigation and prosecution in the sum of $500.00.

MANDOLFO also agreed, pursuant to the plea agreement reached with the Government, that separate and apart from any fine that will be imposed, he will donate the $210 he was going to use to purchase the cocaine on February 11, 2004 to the Stratford Police Department's DARE Program to help finance a group dedicated to dissuading others, and especially young people, from becoming involved in illicit drug use.

U.S. Attorney O'Connor further noted that the U.S. Attorney's Office sponsors a "Weed and Seed" effort that is designed to weed criminal conduct from communities and provide the basis or "seeds" for redevelopment. This investigation and prosecution are part of those efforts. This case was investigated by a Drug Enforcement Administration-led task force consisting of federal agents, and officers from the Stratford Police Department, the Bridgeport Police Department and the Stamford Police Department.