News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 28, 2005

THREE SENTENCED FOR ROLES IN BRIDGEPORT
DRUG DISTRIBUTION NETWORK

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 three individuals have been sentenced for their roles in a large-scale narcotics conspiracy.

On Monday, April 25, 2005, DAVID ARROYO, age 22, of 628 Bishop Avenue, Bridgeport, was sentenced by United States District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to six years of imprisonment for conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine and "crack" cocaine. Today, Judge Underhill sentenced LAURA GONZALEZ, age 52, a Cuban national residing at 567 East Main Street, Bridgeport, to three years of imprisonment for conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute "crack" cocaine; and MICHAEL MARTINEZ, age 29, of 290 Harriet Street, Bridgeport, to three years of probation, for conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine. Judge Underhill also ordered MARTINEZ to serve the first six months of his probation confined to his home, and to pay a fine in the amount of $10,000. All three have pleaded guilty to these charges.

ARROYO, MARTINEZ, and GONZALEZ were arrested in February 2004 as part of a long-term investigation spearheaded by the Drug Enforcement Administration into the distribution of multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine," crack" cocaine and marijuana in Bridgeport and the surrounding area. During the investigation, the DEA Task Force obtained court-authorized wiretaps for several different telephones used by members of this drug organization, including Luis Quiles. As revealed in court proceedings, the wiretaps exposed a vast organization headed by Quiles which was responsible for the distribution of multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine each week on the streets of Bridgeport and surrounding towns. As further revealed in court proceedings, MARTINEZ and ARROYO operated as lower-level distributers of cocaine, while GONZALEZ allowed her home to be used as a "stash" where Quiles could store his drugs before being distributed. Seized during the investigation were approximately eight kilograms of cocaine, nearly 300 grams of crack cocaine, several firearms and approximately $1 million in drug proceeds.

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 and crack 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 the Bridgeport, Stratford, Easton, Fairfield, Norwalk, and Stamford police departments, and members of the Connecticut State Police.