News Release [print-friendly version]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 6, 2007

Bridgeport Man Sentenced To 37 Months In Federal Prison For Trafficking Cocaine

DEC 6 -- June W. Stansbury, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration in New England and Kevin J. O’Connor, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that FAUSTINO PENA-MORLA, 45, a citizen of the Dominican Republic last residing in Bridgeport, Connecticut, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Janet C. Hall in Bridgeport to 37 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release. On September 12, 2007, PENA-MORLA pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine.

According to documents filed with the Court and statements made in court, PENA-MORLA was observed by law enforcement traveling from Bridgeport to a New York City parking garage, where he exited his vehicle and entered a black livery car. The black livery car transported PENA-MORLA to a building that he entered and exited. The black livery car then returned PENA-MORLA to the parking garage, and he drove back to Connecticut via Interstate 95. After police surveillance cars approached PENA-MORLA’s vehicle on the highway, he began changing lanes at a high rate of speed. When PENA-MORLA’s car was stopped, officers found more than 250 grams of cocaine under the front seat. Federal search warrants subsequently executed at PENA-MORLA’s residence and stash house in Bridgeport yielded drug records and drug packaging materials.

PENA-MORLA faces deportation to the Dominican Republic following service of his term of imprisonment.

This matter stems from an investigation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force, with assistance from the Greenwich Police Department, into the distribution of controlled substances throughout the greater Bridgeport area.