NEW BRITAIN, CT – Rafael Martinez, 31, is facing a hefty prison sentence after admitting to running a large-scale fentanyl distribution operation out of his New Britain home and a Hartford apartment. The bust, a joint effort by the DEA and ATF, revealed a sophisticated narcotics ring fueled by deadly fentanyl, along with an illegal cache of firearms.
Federal agents descended on Martinez’s Hayes Street residence in New Britain on August 3, 2022, finding him in the act of tossing a significant quantity of white powder – later identified as fentanyl – out the window. Inside, investigators discovered approximately 3,000 wax folds of the potent opioid, along with additional loose fentanyl and crack cocaine. The scene was littered with paraphernalia used for processing and packaging the drugs. The search also yielded two handguns, ammunition, and a staggering $28,777 in cash.
The DEA’s Hartford Task Force had been tracking Martinez for months, identifying him as a major player in the local fentanyl trade. Recovered from the area outside the residence was an additional 200 grams of fentanyl, confirming Martinez’s desperate attempt to ditch the evidence. Court documents detail how Martinez utilized both the New Britain address and a separate location on Sargeant Street in Hartford to store and distribute the deadly drug.
Adding to the severity of the charges, Martinez has a prior criminal record including state felony convictions for narcotics offenses. This makes the possession of the two firearms a clear violation of federal law, as convicted felons are prohibited from owning guns or ammunition that have crossed state lines. He now faces serious consequences for both the drug trafficking and the illegal firearms.
Martinez pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, a charge that carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison and a maximum of 40 years. He also admitted guilt to one count of possession of a firearm by a felon, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years. U.S. District Judge Robert N. Chatigny will hand down the sentence on April 13.
The investigation was spearheaded by the DEA’s Hartford Task Force, with significant support from the ATF and multiple Connecticut police departments including Bristol, Hartford, East Hartford, Enfield, Manchester, New Britain, Rocky Hill, Wethersfield, Windsor Locks and Willimantic. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey M. Stone, operating under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program, a multi-agency initiative focused on dismantling major drug trafficking organizations.
Related Federal Cases
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- Jason Prawl, Sex Trafficking of Minors, Bridgeport CT, 2023 · Connecticut
- Orlando Tirado, Heroin Trafficking, CT 2023 · Connecticut
- Ramon Gomez, Sex Trafficking of a Minor, CT 2016 · Connecticut
- Roman Pantojas, Heroin-for-Firearms Trafficking, CT 2014 · Connecticut
Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Weapons|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Press Release
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