LUIS CASTRO, Cocaine Trafficking, Connecticut 2018

LUIS CASTRO, 33, of Waterbury, Connecticut, has been found guilty of a serious crime.

A federal jury in Bridgeport has delivered a guilty verdict in the case of LUIS CASTRO, who was charged with possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine. This offense carries severe penalties.

The trial before U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill began on August 24 and the jury returned its verdict yesterday. This verdict marks a significant step in the justice system's efforts to combat cocaine trafficking.

According to the evidence presented at trial, a DEA Task Force investigation identified Castro as being involved in cocaine trafficking activity. The investigation led to a court-authorized search of Castro’s residence on Delaware Avenue in Waterbury, which revealed approximately 566 grams of cocaine, a large kilogram press, narcotics paraphernalia, and $8,292 in cash.

LUIS CASTRO now faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years. Judge Underhill has scheduled sentencing for November 19, 2021. Castro is currently released on a $200,000 bond pending sentencing.

This is not Castro’s first federal conviction. In March 2011, he was sentenced in the Southern District of New York to 18 months of imprisonment for distributing cocaine and crack cocaine, and illegally dealing firearms.

The DEA Bridgeport High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force investigated this matter. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rahul Kale and Tara Levens.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ct/pr/waterbury-man-guilty-cocaine-trafficking-offense