A Puerto Rico man has been sentenced to 5 years in federal prison for trafficking cocaine to Connecticut, federal officials announced.
José Angel Suárez, 39, of Veja Baja, Puerto Rico, was sentenced to 60 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release, for trafficking cocaine, according to a statement from Vanessa Roberts Avery, U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut.
The investigation, led by the Drug Enforcement Administration New Haven Task Force and New Haven Police Department, revealed that Malbin Rubiera-Herrera, also known as ‘Chaca,’ acquired fentanyl, heroin and cocaine from sources in Connecticut and New Jersey and distributed the drugs through a network of associates in the greater New Haven area.
Between October and December 2018, investigators made controlled purchases of narcotics from Rubiera-Herrera. Subsequent court-authorized wiretaps revealed a widespread narcotics trafficking conspiracy that involved the trafficking of kilogram-quantities of fentanyl, heroin and cocaine into Connecticut.
In March 2019, Rubiera-Herrera and William Claudio-Suarez were intercepted on a wiretap discussing the shipment of two kilograms of cocaine to Connecticut. On March 7, 2019, a series of intercepted calls revealed that José Suarez and Mario Llanos-Ayala had just sold a kilogram of cocaine and were traveling in a car in New Jersey. Investigators alerted New Jersey law enforcement authorities who stopped and searched the car and recovered approximately one kilogram of cocaine, a loaded .45 caliber handgun and more than $2,500 in cash.
Suarez has been detained since his arrest. On April 14, 2022, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with the intent to distribute, 500 grams or more of cocaine.
Defendant Information:
Defendant: José Angel Suárez (39)
Criminal Charges: Conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with the intent to distribute, 500 grams or more of cocaine
City and State: New Haven, Connecticut
Date: April 14, 2022
Sentence or Outcome: 60 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release
Dollar Amounts: $2,500
Related Federal Cases
- ERICK SUAREZ, Cocaine Trafficking, Connecticut 2018 · Puerto Rico
- Brandon Turner, Fentanyl Cocaine Trafficking, Connecticut 2024 · Puerto Rico
- Jose Torres Serrano, Cocaine Trafficking, PR 2023 · Puerto Rico
- Brandon Spence, Fentanyl and Cocaine Trafficking, Connecticut 2024 · Puerto Rico
- Jose Gonzalez, Cocaine Trafficking, Pennsylvania 2024 · Puerto Rico
Key Facts
- State: Connecticut
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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