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Defendant Pleads Guilty to Drug and Gun Charges
Eyisiel Ortega, 20, of East Hartford, Connecticut, pleaded guilty to drug distribution and gun possession offenses in federal court yesterday.
According to court documents, between September and November 2017, investigators conducted controlled purchases of crack cocaine from Ortega. The investigation was headed by the ATF and East Hartford Police Department into drug trafficking and related acts of violence by a group of individuals operating out of the Mayberry Village housing complex in East Hartford.
On November 7, 2017, Ortega was arrested and a court-authorized search of his residence revealed a loaded .380 caliber Ruger LCP semi-automatic pistol, 20 loose rounds of ammunition, approximately 30 grams of crack cocaine, a quantity of fentanyl, and $4,530 in cash. The firearm had been reported stolen in Georgia.
Ortega pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine base (‘crack’), which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, which carries a mandatory consecutive sentence of at least five years.
Ortega has been detained since his arrest and a sentencing date has not been scheduled. The investigation is being conducted by the ATF and East Hartford Police Department, with the assistance of the Connecticut Department of Correction and the Minot (N.D.) Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patricia Stolfi Collins.
Ortega’s guilty plea marks a significant victory for law enforcement in their efforts to combat drug trafficking and related violence in the state of Connecticut.
The case highlights the important role that federal law enforcement agencies play in supporting local law enforcement efforts to address complex crime problems.
Key Facts
- State: Connecticut
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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