Rey Urena, Oxycodone Trafficking, Connecticut 2020

Four men were arrested in connection with the distribution of oxycodone pills, counterfeit pills containing fentanyl, and other drugs in the Hartford area.

Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England, and David Sundberg, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, announced that four men were arrested today on federal charges related to the distribution of oxycodone pills, counterfeit pills containing fentanyl, and other drugs in the Hartford area.

Each of the following individuals is charged by criminal complaint with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, controlled substances:

REY URENA, also known as “Rueben,” 21, of Waterbury

YAN REYES, 34, a citizen of the Dominican Republic residing in Hartford

RAMON VARGAS, 20, of Hartford

JOSE LORA, 27, of Hartford

The four defendants are in custody and detention hearings are scheduled, beginning May 21.

As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, the DEA Tactical Diversion Squad and the FBI Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force have been investigating the distribution of oxycodone pills, counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl, and other drugs from neighborhood grocery stores in New Britain and Hartford.

Between January 2020 and March 2021, investigators made several controlled purchases of illegal pills at the Washington Market, formerly located at 453 Washington Street in Hartford; JZ Tobacco, located at 25 New Britain Avenue in Hartford, and Prestige Market, located at 23 New Britain Avenue in Hartford. Urena supervised the illegal enterprise, Reyes and Vargas sold pills from JZ Tobacco and Prestige Market, and Lora served as a runner and lookout for the organization.

It is further alleged that, on December 20, 2020, investigators stopped a vehicle registered to Urena and found approximately 4,000 oxycodone pills and $51,000 in cash in a hidden “trap” beneath the front passenger seat of the car.

Defendant: Rey Urena

Criminal Charges: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, controlled substances

City and State: Waterbury, Connecticut

Exact Date: 2020-01 to 2021-03 (investigation period)

Sentence or Outcome: In custody and detention hearings scheduled, beginning May 21

Dollar Amounts: $51,000 in cash

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