In a major blow to the heroin trade, a New Jersey man has been sentenced to 170 months in federal prison for his role in trafficking the deadly opioid.
David Monseratte Torres, 30, of New Jersey, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in Bridgeport to 170 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for trafficking heroin. The sentence was handed down on an unknown date in Bridgeport, Connecticut.
Torres was the main source of heroin for Wilfredo Gutierrez, also known as “Bean” and “Big Pun,” and his brother, Bobby Gutierrez, also known as “B.O.,” a drug trafficking organization that operated in Fairfield County between September 2015 and May 2016. The investigation, led by the DEA’s Bridgeport High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force, Stamford Police Department, Norwalk Police Department and Connecticut State Police, revealed that the Gutierrez brothers and others conspired to distribute at least 10 kilograms of heroin during that time.
Torres was arrested on May 31, 2016, and pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin on July 5, 2016. He admitted to being involved in the distribution of more than 30 kilograms of heroin.
However, Torres’s troubles didn’t end there. After he pleaded guilty and was released on bond pending sentencing, an investigation revealed that he had purchased U-47700, a synthetic opioid also known as “Pink,” over the dark web. On March 7, 2017, Torres was arrested by the DEA in New York. A search of his person and vehicle revealed approximately 60 grams of U-47700, approximately 100 grams of heroin, and $8,600 in cash.
Torres has been detained since his arrest on March 7, 2017. Nine individuals were charged as a result of the investigation, and all pleaded guilty. Torres is the last to be sentenced.
Wilfredo Gutierrez, the leader of the drug trafficking organization, was sentenced to 180 months of imprisonment on March 16, 2017, while Bobby Gutierrez was sentenced to 160 months of imprisonment on April 24, 2017. Bobby Gutierrez was also ordered to forfeit $171,462 in cash.
Torres pleaded guilty in the Southern District of New York to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin on April 13, 2018. He awaits sentencing in that case.
The DEA’s Bridgeport High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force includes members from the Bridgeport, Stamford, Stratford, Norwalk, Milford and Trumbull Police Departments, and the Connecticut State Police. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anthony Kaplan and Heather Cherry.
The investigation into Torres’s activities highlights the ongoing threat of heroin trafficking in the region. As law enforcement continues to crack down on these operations, it’s clear that the fight against heroin is far from over.
Torres’s sentence serves as a reminder of the severe consequences for those involved in heroin trafficking. As the investigation into his activities continues, it’s clear that those who profit from this deadly opioid will be held accountable.
Key Facts
- State: Connecticut
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
ðŸâ€Â’ Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
Drug TraffickingDrug TraffickingDrug TraffickingDrug Trafficking