Hugo Tejeda, Trafficking Black Tar Heroin, Connecticut 2015

In a recent crackdown on heroin trafficking, three Waterbury men, Hugo Tejeda, Ivan Lermo, and Vladimir Rodriguez-Lara, have been charged with trafficking a significant amount of black tar heroin.

According to court documents, in August 2015, the Drug Enforcement Administration received information that Tejeda was in possession of approximately 1.5 kilograms of black tar heroin from Mexico and was searching for a buyer. The DEA subsequently identified Lermo and Rodriguez-Lara as his associates.

On August 10 and August 20, Tejeda drove Lermo to meetings at which Lermo supplied black tar heroin to confidential informants working for the DEA. On August 13, 2015, Tejeda drove Lermo to a meeting during which Lermo agreed to sell 1.5 kilograms of heroin to a confidential informant in exchange for $76,000.

The indictment charges Tejeda, Lermo, and Rodriguez-Lara with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin, and possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, one kilogram or more of heroin, offenses that carry a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum term of life in prison.

The indictment also charges Tejeda and Lermo with possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of heroin, offenses that carry a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.

The defendants were originally arrested on federal criminal complaints. Lermo has been detained since his arrest, and Tejeda and Rodriguez-Lara are each released on a $50,000 bond.

This investigation has been conducted by the Bridgeport High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force, which includes personnel from the DEA, Connecticut State Police, and the Norwalk, Stamford, Stratford, and Milford Police Departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy C. Brown.

Defendant: Hugo Tejeda, Ivan Lermo, Vladimir Rodriguez-Lara

Criminal Charges: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin, possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, one kilogram or more of heroin, possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of heroin

City and State: Waterbury, Connecticut

Exact Date: August 2015

Sentence or Outcome: Tejeda and Rodriguez-Lara are each released on a $50,000 bond, Lermo has been detained since his arrest

Dollar Amounts: $76,000

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ct/pr/three-waterbury-men-indicted-trafficking-black-tar-heroin