News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 31, 2002

Springfield Woman Sentenced For Distributing
Heroin And Cocaine

Springfield, MA… A Springfield woman was sentenced late yesterday in federal court for distributing heroin and cocaine.

Mark R. Trouville, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division, and United States Attorney Michael J. Sullivan, announced that CLARIE CABEZUDO, age 24, of Springfield, Massachusetts, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Michael A. Ponsor to 1 year and 6 months' imprisonment, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release. CABEZUDO pleaded guilty on July 31, 2002 to conspiring to distribute cocaine and heroin and three counts of distributing heroin.

At the earlier plea hearing, the prosecutor told the Court that had the case proceeded to trial the Government's evidence would have proven that on November 19, 2001, December 4, 2001 and January 17, 2002, CABEZUDO aided the distribution of a total of 67.8 grams of heroin to an undercover agent. Further, during the execution of a search warrant at her home on February 26, 2002, three kilograms of cocaine were seized.

The case was investigated by the Springfield, Massachusetts DEA Task Force. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd E. Newhouse.

Please direct any inquire to Special Agent Anthony J. Pettigrew, Public Information Officer, New England Field Division at 617-557-2138.