Fentanyl Trafficking Lands Connecticut Man 70 Months in Prison

William Valerio-Palermo, also known as ‘Willy,’ a 37-year-old citizen of the Dominican Republic and last residing in East Hartford, was sentenced to 70 months in federal prison for trafficking acetylfentanyl, a fentanyl analogue.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in 2018, law enforcement received information that Valerio was trafficking kilogram-quantities of fentanyl and was using his Hartford auto-repair business to launder drug proceeds. On July 12, 2018, a court-authorized search of a West Hartford apartment that Valerio rented revealed approximately six kilograms of acetylfentanyl, items used to process and package narcotics, and approximately $49,000 in cash.

Valerio has been detained since his arrest on July 12, 2018. He pleaded guilty on July 6, 2021. Valerio faces immigration proceedings when he completes his prison term.

The investigation was conducted by the DEA’s Hartford Task Force and the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force. The Drug Enforcement Administration’s Hartford Task Force includes personnel from the DEA Hartford Resident Office, the Connecticut State Police, and the Bristol, Hartford, East Hartford, Enfield, Manchester, New Britain, Rocky Hill, Wethersfield, Windsor Locks and Willimantic Police Departments.

The FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force includes the Hartford Police Department, East Hartford Police Department, New Britain Police Department, West Hartford Police Department, Connecticut State Police and Connecticut Department of Correction. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian P. Leaming through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program.

OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.

Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF. This case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of fentanyl trafficking and the importance of law enforcement collaboration in dismantling these networks.

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