2 days ago
CT man sentenced for role in drug trafficking ring. He was a main street-level distributor.
A Waterbury man has been sentenced to almost three years in federal prison for his participation in a large-scale drug trafficking ring.
Jose Delrosario-Canela, also known as 'Domi,' 39, was sentenced Thursday by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford to 32 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances on Feb. 11, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
The FBI's Waterbury Safe Streets Gang Task Force and other law enforcement agencies used court-authorized wiretaps, video surveillance, GPS tracking of vehicles and numerous controlled purchases of narcotics as they investigated two drug trafficking organizations based in the city of Waterbury, court records show.
One organization reportedly operated in the area of William Street and the other operated in the area of Maple Avenue, according to court records.
The investigation reportedly revealed that the two organizations distributed cocaine, crack cocaine and fentanyl through 'a network of sellers. The organizations shared sources of supply and worked together to further their operations,' the U.S. Attorney's Office said.
According to court records, law enforcement made two controlled purchases of crack cocaine from Delrosario-Canela, who was identified as one of the main street-level distributors for the Maple Avenue organization.
As a result of the investigation, 17 individuals were charged with federal offenses, court records show. Delrosario-Canela and several codefendants were arrested on Nov. 29, 2023.
Investigators executed multiple search warrants and seized 700 grams of crack cocaine, more than 900 vials of crack cocaine, 200 grams of loose fentanyl, more than 1,600 dose bags of fentanyl/heroin, two stolen firearms, numerous rounds of ammunition, and over $39,000 in cash, according to court records.
Delrosario-Canela has been detained since his arrest, court records show.
Tthe FBI's Waterbury Safe Streets Gang Task includes members from the FBI, the Waterbury Police Department, the Naugatuck Police Department, and the Connecticut Department of Correction,' according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. 'The DEA, U.S. Marshals Service, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Connecticut State Police, Wolcott Police Department, and Meriden Police Department have assisted the investigation.'
