News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 18, 2005

NORWALK MAN RECEIVES 15 MONTHS ON FEDERAL NARCOTICS CONVICTION

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 JAIRO CALDERON, age 34, of 36 Ferris Avenue, Norwalk, Connecticut, was sentenced today by Senior United States District Judge Peter C. Dorsey in New Haven to 15 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release. On May 19, 2003, CALDERON pleaded guilty to conspiring to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine. CALDERON is also expected to be deported to Colombia.

This prosecution was part of a larger Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force ("OCDETF") investigation dubbed "Operation Goal Tender," which was spearheaded by the Drug Enforcement Administration in Bridgeport. As detailed in court proceedings, CALDERON operated as one of the lower-level distributors for Gustavo Flores, who operated an indoor soccer complex in Fairfield, Connecticut, and who was part of a Colombian-based drug trafficking organization that distributed multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine in Fairfield County. As further detailed in court proceedings, CALDERON sold ounce quantities of cocaine to a cooperating individual on four separate occasions in late 2002. It was further revealed that CALDERON was responsible for the distribution of approximately 125 grams of cocaine each month for approximately 18 months.

U.S. Attorney O'Connor commended the law enforcement agents and officers who conducted the investigation and praised their devoted efforts to identify, disrupt and dismantle this multi-kilogram cocaine trafficking operation.

This matter was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration Task Force, which is located in Bridgeport and is comprised of DEA special agents, officers from several local police departments as well as members of the Connecticut State Police.