East Hartford Heroin Dealer Gets 7 Years

HARTFORD, CT – Orlando Tirado, 30, of East Hartford, is headed to federal prison for seven years after being sentenced today for flooding the streets of Hartford with heroin. U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant handed down the 84-month sentence, followed by five years of supervised release, effectively removing a key player in a significant drug trafficking operation.

The case, spearheaded by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Hartford Task Force, peeled back layers of a heroin distribution network that had taken root in the Hartford area. Investigators first flagged Tirado on June 4, 2014, during a routine traffic stop. A search of his vehicle turned up a hefty $5,200 in cash – a clear indicator of illicit activity. But that was just the beginning.

Things escalated on November 27, 2014, when Tirado attempted to evade Hartford Police responding to a domestic assault call. In a desperate bid to escape, he tossed six brick-sized packages, later found to contain a staggering 3,003 bags of heroin, into the street. Arrested at the scene, Tirado faced state narcotics charges, but the feds were already building a larger case. Even while out on pre-trial release, Tirado wasn’t slowing down.

Court-authorized wiretaps in May 2015 revealed Tirado was actively coordinating with associates to continue selling narcotics. The network extended beyond Connecticut’s borders. On May 13, 2015, one of Tirado’s accomplices made a trip to New York City, only to be intercepted by law enforcement who seized a whopping $125,000 in cash. This clearly demonstrated the scale of the operation and the flow of funds fueling it.

Tirado has been cooling his heels behind bars since his arrest on June 4, 2015. He ultimately pleaded guilty on June 2, 2016, to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin. His prior criminal history, including felony convictions for narcotics trafficking and assaulting a police officer, undoubtedly contributed to the severity of his sentence. Six others were also charged as a result of the investigation.

The DEA’s Hartford Task Force, a collaborative effort involving the Bristol, East Hartford, Hartford, Manchester, New Britain, Wethersfield and Willimantic Police Departments, along with the Connecticut State Police, conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey M. Stone prosecuted the case, securing a conviction that sends a clear message: dealing death on the streets of Connecticut will not be tolerated.