BRIDGEPORT, CT – Joshua Roman, 33, of Hartford, is trading his motorcycle leathers for an orange jumpsuit. The president of the Loose Cannonz motorcycle club was sentenced today to 72 months in federal prison followed by four years of supervised release for his role in a large-scale drug trafficking operation flooding Connecticut with fentanyl and cocaine. U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill delivered the sentence in Bridgeport.
The bust, spearheaded by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Hartford Task Force, began unraveling Roman’s operation back in July 2022. Investigators utilized a full arsenal of tactics – court-authorized wiretaps, round-the-clock surveillance, and meticulously planned controlled buys – to build their case. The wiretaps quickly revealed Roman wasn’t dealing in pocket change. He was attempting to broker deals for kilogram quantities of fentanyl and the even more potent carfentanil, a dangerous synthetic opioid.
Court documents paint a picture of a steady stream of narcotics flowing into the Hartford area, funneled through Roman and his associates. The investigation culminated in two key seizures. On May 18, 2023, an undercover officer successfully purchased approximately 100 grams of fentanyl directly from Roman. Less than three weeks later, on June 7, 2023, investigators moved in, arresting Roman at a Hartford residence and seizing another 50 grams of the deadly opioid. A subsequent raid of the Loose Cannonz clubhouse in East Hartford yielded an additional 50 grams.
Roman ultimately pleaded guilty on May 5, 2025, to possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. While out on a $100,000 bond, Roman must now surrender to authorities and begin his 6-year sentence on October 22. The feds weren’t messing around. This wasn’t a slap on the wrist; it’s a clear message that moving this much poison will land you behind bars.
The DEA’s Hartford Task Force wasn’t working alone. The investigation was a collaborative effort involving the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Connecticut State Police, and a slew of local police departments – Bristol, Hartford, East Hartford, Enfield, Manchester, New Britain, Rocky Hill, Wethersfield, and Windsor Locks all contributed personnel. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Reed Durham and Robert Dearington are prosecuting the case through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program, signaling the scope and seriousness of this operation.
This case underscores the ongoing opioid crisis gripping the nation, and the relentless efforts of law enforcement to stem the tide of fentanyl and cocaine hitting our streets. While one trafficker is off the streets, the work continues. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this story and expose the networks preying on our communities.
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Key Facts
- State: Connecticut
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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