A West Haven man has been convicted of distributing heroin that contributed to a Bridgeport overdose death, Grimy Times has learned.
John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that John Rodriguez, 37, of West Haven, pleaded guilty yesterday in Bridgeport federal court to one count of possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, heroin.
The case stems from an ongoing initiative targeting narcotics dealers who distribute heroin, fentanyl, or opioids that cause death or serious injury to users.
According to court documents, Bridgeport Police and emergency medical personnel responded to a residence in Bridgeport after a 29-year-old male had been found unresponsive by his roommate on November 7, 2015. The victim was pronounced dead after several attempts to revive him.
An investigation revealed that Rodriguez supplied heroin to the victim the day before he died. A post-mortem toxicology report found fentanyl, marijuana, and several anti-depressant drugs in the victim’s system, leading the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for the State of Connecticut to conclude that the victim died from acute fentanyl intoxication.
Rodriguez was arrested on a federal criminal complaint on September 22, 2016, and is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford on March 5, 2018. He faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.
U.S. Magistrate Judge William I. Garfinkel ordered Rodriguez to be remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service after yesterday’s guilty plea proceeding. This matter has been investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New Haven Tactical Diversion Squad and the West Haven and Bridgeport Police Departments.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert M. Spector.
In related news, a nationwide crackdown on heroin and fentanyl dealers is ongoing, with scores of arrests made in recent months.
Stay tuned to Grimy Times for updates on this developing story.
Key Facts
- State: Connecticut
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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