Eric Ortiz, also known as “Nice,” 35, of Hartford, is headed to federal prison for three long years after being sentenced Wednesday for dealing crack cocaine in the city’s violent South End. U.S. District Judge Robert N. Chatigny handed down the 36-month sentence, followed by three years of supervised release, marking the latest fall from grace in a drug-fueled street war that’s plagued the neighborhood for years.
The conviction stems from a sweeping federal crackdown launched in September 2014 by the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Violent Crimes Task Force and the Hartford Police Department. Targeting the notorious gang Los Solidos, the investigation peeled back layers of narcotics distribution, firearms trafficking, and street-level violence. With court-authorized wiretaps and controlled buys, agents built a case that would eventually land approximately 30 individuals behind bars — including Ortiz, whose name surfaced in multiple drug deals.
Between October 2014 and May 2015, Ortiz sold crack cocaine to a confidential source working directly with law enforcement — not once, but four times. Those sales, caught in the web of federal surveillance, sealed his fate. He was arrested on June 15, 2015, but the story didn’t end there. While out on bond, Ortiz went right back to the streets, peddling crack near Park Street under the watchful eyes of Hartford Police Vice and Narcotics detectives.
That reckless return to dealing led to his bond being revoked on February 3, 2016. The message was clear: the system wasn’t buying his act. On August 17, 2016, Ortiz pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, cocaine base — crack cocaine — in federal court. No deals, no excuses. Just time.
The FBI-led task force included deep collaboration from the East Hartford Police Department, Connecticut State Police, Connecticut Department of Correction, U.S. Marshals Service, and the Capitol Region Emergency Response Team (CREST). The Hartford Police Department’s Major Crimes unit, Shooting Task Force, and South Conditions Unit also played pivotal roles. This wasn’t a solo takedown — it was a full-scale assault on gang violence.
This case emerged from Project Longevity, a hard-hitting initiative aimed at crushing gun violence in Connecticut’s most troubled cities. Through targeted “call-ins,” law enforcement and community leaders confront gang members directly, warning them of consequences and offering a way out. Notably, members of Los Solidos, including associates of Ortiz, attended call-ins in April and August 2014. He heard the warning. He ignored it. Now, he’s paying for it. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Gustafson prosecuted the case with cold precision.
Related Federal Cases
- Hartford’s ‘B.O.’ Minnifield Gets 5 Years for Crack Dealing · Connecticut
- Bangor Man ‘Del’ Baldwin Gets 15 Months for Crack Deal · Maine
- Shawn Miller Gets 7.5 Years for Heroin, Crack Ring · Connecticut
- Kevin Everett Gets 3 Years for Crack Distribution · New York
- Akeen Ocean Gets 10 Years for Crack Conspiracy · Maine
Key Facts
- State: Connecticut
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: Official Source ↗
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