Hartford Heroin Dealer Gamero Gets 6 Years, Gun Charge Adds Time

HARTFORD, CT – Daniel Gamero, 24, of Hartford, is headed to federal prison for six years after admitting to peddling heroin that contributed to a wave of overdoses in the region. U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea handed down the 72-month sentence today, followed by three years of supervised release. The case underscores the federal government’s relentless pursuit of those profiting from the opioid crisis, and the added penalties for those who arm themselves while doing so.

The investigation, part of a statewide initiative targeting narcotics dealers responsible for distributing heroin, fentanyl, and opioids, began in February 2016. Hartford Police flagged a specific brand stamp appearing on heroin linked to two fatal overdoses – one in Vernon on February 1st and another in Granby on March 22nd. Detectives quickly zeroed in on Gamero and his associate, Charlie Tacuri, as the source.

Between February and April 2016, law enforcement executed four controlled purchases, consistently obtaining heroin bearing the deadly brand stamp from Gamero. The net tightened on April 21, 2016, culminating in the arrest of both Gamero and Tacuri. A subsequent raid of Gamero’s Preston Street residence yielded a disturbing haul: approximately 650 bags of heroin, a quantity of marijuana, a loaded firearm, and $1,600 in cash. Tacuri was found with roughly 60 bags of heroin and $1,200 in cash at the time of his arrest.

On December 15, 2016, Gamero pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute heroin and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The gun charge significantly increased his potential sentence, demonstrating the federal government’s commitment to disarming criminals involved in the drug trade. Gamero, a citizen of Peru and lawful permanent resident of the U.S., now faces potential immigration proceedings upon his release from prison.

Charlie Tacuri, Gamero’s accomplice, pleaded guilty on December 8, 2016, to one count of conspiracy to distribute heroin and awaits sentencing. Authorities haven’t disclosed whether Tacuri will cooperate with investigators in exchange for a lighter sentence.

The investigation was a collaborative effort led by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New Haven Tactical Diversion Squad, along with the Hartford, Vernon, and Granby Police Departments. The Tactical Diversion Squad is a multi-agency task force comprised of officers from numerous Connecticut police departments and the Connecticut State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney H. Gordon Hall prosecuted the case, relentlessly pursuing justice for the victims and their families.