Wallingford, Connecticut – Two men have been charged with trafficking fentanyl laced with xylazine, a deadly combination that has been linked to a surge in overdose deaths across the country.
Alexander Garcia, 28, and Daniel Vargas, 27, both of Wallingford, were arrested on November 13, 2024, after a months-long investigation by the FBI New Haven Safe Streets Gang Task Force.
As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, in August 2024, the FBI New Haven Safe Streets Gang Task Force initiated an investigation into a drug trafficking organization led by Garcia and Vargas, who were sometimes called ‘Drake and Josh’ or ‘Mikey and Tony.’
Between August and November 2024, investigators made several controlled purchases of fentanyl from Garcia and Vargas. Completed laboratory analysis of some of the purchased fentanyl revealed the presence of xylazine.
Garcia and Vargas were arrested on November 13, 2024, and a search of their residence on Lee Avenue in Wallingford revealed a firearm and more than $29,000 in cash.
The charge of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.
U.S. Attorney Vanessa Roberts Avery stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The FBI Safe Streets Gang Task Force includes members of the New Haven Police Department, East Haven Police Department, Milford Police Department, and the Connecticut Department of Correction.
Related Federal Cases
- Lonnie Joyner, Trafficking Firearms and Narcotics, Connecticut 2022 · Puerto Rico
- Daniel Alexander Smith, Fentanyl Trafficking, Connecticut 2023 · New Hampshire
- Agustin Cirino, Fentanyl Trafficking, Connecticut 2024 · Connecticut
- David Reichard, Fentanyl Analogue Trafficking, Conspiracy, Connecticut 2019 · Connecticut
- Brandon Spence, Fentanyl and Cocaine Trafficking, Connecticut 2024 · Puerto Rico
Key Facts
- State: Connecticut
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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