Cocaine Traffickers Sentenced to Decades in Prison

BUFFALO, N.Y. – A pair of Connecticut cousins, Nelson Areizaga-Rosa and Ricardo Ortiz-Rosa, both 38 and 42, respectively, have been handed down a harsh sentence for their role in a major cocaine trafficking operation.

According to court documents, on March 17, 2011, the duo, along with two other individuals, were stopped for speeding on I-86 in the Town of Ellicott by a Chautauqua County Sheriff’s deputy. A subsequent search of their vehicle revealed a shocking discovery – $60,000 in U.S. currency secreted in the spare tire, representing the proceeds from the sale of two kilograms of cocaine.

Law enforcement officers also seized more than one kilogram of heroin, a quantity of cocaine, and multiple firearms. An additional four defendants were also arrested, bringing the total number of defendants in the heroin trafficking investigation to eight.

During a search warrant executed at a residence in Campbell, Ohio, officers recovered another $205,000 in U.S. currency. Five vehicles were also seized during the course of the narcotics investigation.

The investigation, which spanned multiple states, was a collaborative effort between the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of James J. Hunt, Acting Special Agent in Charge, New York Field Division, the Southern Tier Regional Drug Task Force, under the direction of Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Lieutenant David Bentley, the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Department, under the direction of Sheriff Joseph Gerace, and the Jamestown Police Department, under the direction of Harry Snellings.

U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced the sentencing, which marks the culmination of the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas S. Duszkiewicz handled the case.

Nelson Areizaga-Rosa and Ricardo Ortiz-Rosa were each sentenced to 180 months in prison by Chief U.S. District Judge William M. Skretny, bringing an end to the lengthy and complex investigation.

The sentencings are a testament to the tireless efforts of law enforcement officials in bringing major traffickers to justice. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this story and provide updates as more information becomes available.

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