Wilson Guzman, Jr., Distributing Narcotics, Connecticut 2024

A Milford man who used an encrypted phone messaging application to traffic drugs has been sentenced to 36 months in prison.

According to court documents and statements made in court, 40-year-old Wilson Guzman, Jr. advertised various controlled substances, including fake oxycodone pills containing fentanyl and fake Adderall pills containing methamphetamine, on Telegram.

Guzman then distributed the drugs to customers in person and through the U.S. mail. He used locations in West Haven, North Haven, and East Haven to store and prepare narcotics for distribution.

Between May and August 2023, investigators made controlled purchases of drugs from Guzman, including more than 1,000 counterfeit pills containing fentanyl, counterfeit Adderall containing methamphetamine, and psilocybin mushrooms.

Guzman was arrested on September 6, 2023, and a search of his Milford residence and other locations revealed various controlled substances, including counterfeit Adderall pills, psilocybin mushrooms, and approximately 20 kilograms of marijuana. An AR-15 style rifle and a Glock style Polymer 80 handgun with no serial numbers, also known as a “ghost gun,” were also seized.

Guzman has been detained since September 21, 2023, after he continued to use Telegram for drug trafficking activity and his bond was revoked. He pleaded guilty on May 20, 2024.

The sentence was announced by Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, who stated that Guzman was held accountable for his role in distributing narcotics through the use of an encrypted phone messaging application.

This matter was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New Haven Task Force, and the East Haven Police Department, West Haven Police Department, New Haven Police Department, Connecticut State Police, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the U.S. Marshals Service. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel E. Cummings.

The exact criminal charges against Wilson Guzman, Jr. include distributing various drugs on Telegram, a crime that carries significant penalties.

Guzman will serve 36 months of imprisonment, followed by two years of supervised release, for his role in distributing narcotics through the use of an encrypted phone messaging application.

The investigation and prosecution of this case highlight the importance of law enforcement agencies working together to combat the rise of encrypted phone messaging applications being used for illicit activities.

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