United States Attorney's Office District of Connecticut
Press Release

EIGHTEEN CHARGED WITH DECADE OF HEROIN TRAFFICKING

Kevin J. O’Connor, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that federal grand jury sitting in Bridgeport has returned an Indictment charging 18 men and women from the Greater Bridgeport area and one New Yorker with participating in a decade-long conspiracy to distribute heroin. The Indictment, which was returned on October 5, 2006, and unsealed today, also seeks the forfeiture of $20,000,000 of alleged profits and proceeds from heroin trafficking, a number of luxury automobiles and Florida real estate.

The following individuals are named in the heroin trafficking conspiracy, beginning in the spring of 1996, which is alleged to have distributed heroin to notorious, previously convicted heroin trafficking gangs including members of the Jones Family, the Frankie Estrada Organization, and others:

EDWIN SANCHEZ, a.k.a.“Trix,” a.k.a.“T,” (DOB 04/06/73), last known address: 11 Laurel Heights, Shelton, CT;

EDGAR NIEVES, a.k.a. “K,” (DOB 11/14/71), last known address: 3699 Broadbridge Avenue #115, Stratford, CT;

JORGE MORALES, a.k.a. “Fat Georgie,” a.k.a. “G,” (DOB 12/28/74), last known address: 556 Hollister Street, #C-25, Stratford, CT;

LEONIDAS DEJESUS PEREZ- DOMINGUEZ, a.k.a. “Loca,” (DOB 04/25/65), 74-16 Woodside Avenue, Queens, New York;

ANTONIO PESANTE, (DOB 06/08/76), currently incarcerated;

MICHAEL PESANTE, (09/13/78), last known address: 70 Palisades Avenue, Bridgeport, CT;

MARCO TACCO, a.k.a. “Soft,” DOB 08/05/74), last known address: 82 Priscilla Street, Bridgeport, CT;

JOSE RODRIGUEZ, a.k.a. “Joe Crack,” (DOB 11/08/78), last known address: McKinley Avenue, Bridgeport, CT;

JUSTIN RILEY, (DOB 10/03/77), last known address: 55 Guzzi Drive, Stratford, CT;

LUIS JUSTINIANO, a.k.a. “Crazor,” (DOB 11/03/78), last known address: 46 Success Village B-29, Bridgeport, CT;

MIGUEL NEGRON, a.k.a. “Mikey,” (DOB 12/21/81), currently incarcerated, last known address: 159 Price Street, Bridgeport, CT;

GLENDA BLANCO, (DOB 12/07/79), last known address: 227 Ogden Street, 2nd Floor, Bridgeport, CT;

VICTOR COLON, a.k.a. “Junie,” (DOB 09/28/77), currently incarcerated;

MICHAEL JACKSON, a.k.a. “Ug,” (DOB 02/26/80), last known address: 715 Lindley Street, Bridgeport, CT;

ALAN ROGERS, a.k.a. “Shug,” (DOB 05/03/75), last known address: 15 Cedar Street #15, Bridgeport, CT;

RUBEN CARDONA, a.k.a. “Chris,” a.k.a. “C,” (DOB 01/09/88), last known address: 556 Hollister #C-25, Stratford, CT; and

CARLOS CINTRON, (DOB 01/19/84), last known address: 2137 East Main Street, Bridgeport, CT.

The Indictment also charges an individual identified only as GREG “LNU,” meaning that his last name was unknown at the time the Indictment was returned.

It was disclosed in open court today that the investigation continued after the Indictment was returned in October, and revealed ongoing heroin, cocaine, and marijuana trafficking. According to the Indictment, SANCHEZ led the organization and employed “lieutenants” who were responsible for processing the heroin and packaging it in small, glassine folds and small plastic bags that, at various times, were stamped with unique brand names, including “Son of Sam,” “Helta Skelta,” “Step It Up,” “Son of Satan,” and others. The Indictment alleges that the Sanchez organization distributed prepackaged heroin through its own lieutenants and to the alleged leaders of street level narcotics distribution organizations, including JUSTINIANO, NEGRON, GREG LNU, COLON, JACKSON, ROGERS, and CINTRON.

According to the Indictment, the organization was supplied at various times by a number of different individuals such as Jorge Orlando Ardilla, also known as “Omar” and “El Viejo,” and former Latin King member Gilberto Rivera, also known as “Junco.” Both individuals were previously charged and convicted in separate trials before Senior United States District Judge Alan H. Nevas, and are presently serving federal prison sentences.

It was disclosed in court today that the organization allegedly was most recently being supplied by New York resident PEREZ-DOMINGUEZ who was arrested today by members of United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, who were conducting a parallel investigation into alleged heroin smuggling. He was transported to Connecticut today and presented before U.S. Magistrate Judge Holly B. Fitzsimmons.

The Indictment also charges that, on June 9, 2004, ANTONIO PESANTE, a previously convicted felon, possessed a Chinese-manufactured semi-automatic 7.62X39mm caliber rifle. As disclosed in open court, if PESANTE is convicted of this federal charge, because of his criminal record, which includes four Connecticut Superior Court felony narcotics convictions, he is facing a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 15 years and a maximum term of life. PESANTE also qualifies for a mandatory lifetime term of imprisonment for the narcotics charge.

The Indictment is the result of a lengthy investigation based upon interviews of persons with personal knowledge of the organization’s inner workings, extensive use of the federal grand jury, controlled purchases of narcotics by cooperating witnesses, extensive physical and videotaped surveillance of the subjects, and court-authorized wiretaps.

According to the Indictment and statements made in court, on November 15, 2006, members of the FBI-Bridgeport Violent Crimes Safe Streets Task Force arrested the subjects on federal arrest warrants, and numerous warrants seizing luxury automobiles were executed throughout Bridgeport. The Indictment alleges that a residence at 1952 Stanton Street in Deltona, Florida, was purchased with narcotics trafficking proceeds. Paperwork was filed overnight in Florida that prevents the registered owners, including MORALES, from transferring or encumbering the property. Seized vehicles include a 2005 Lexus ES330 sedan, a 2007 Cadillac Escalade Sport Utility Vehicle, a 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche, Sport Utility Truck, a 2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo, a 2002 Cadillac Escalade Sport Utility Vehicle, and a 1995 Chevrolet Tahoe, Sport Utility Vehicle. It was also disclosed in open court today that the Government will seek the forfeiture of SANCHEZ’ interest in “Jolly Time Package Store” located on Boston Avenue in Bridgeport.

Most of the defendants were presented before United States Magistrate Judge Holly B. Fitzsimmons in Bridgeport federal court, and have been ordered held without bond pending hearings before Judge Fitzsimmons. Three of the individuals, ANTONIO PESANTE, COLON, and NEGRON are in the custody of the Connecticut Department of Correction and will be presented in federal court on Thursday, November 16. The FBI is seeking the arrest of MICHAEL PESANTE and GREG LNU.

If convicted, most of the defendants face a minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years, a maximum term of life, and fines of up to $4,000,000. Due to prior narcotics trafficking convictions, a number of defendants face mandatory 20-year or lifetime terms of imprisonment.

U.S. Attorney O’Connor stressed that an indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Each defendant is entitled to a fair trial at which it is the Government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

This matter is being investigated by members of the FBI-Bridgeport Violent Crimes Safe Streets Task Force, consisting of federal agents and local and state officers from the Connecticut State Police, and the Bridgeport, Trumbull and Norwalk Police Departments. These cases are being prosecuted by Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex V. Hernandez and Assistant United States Attorney Alina Reynolds.

CONTACT:

U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
Tom Carson
(203) 821-3722
thomas.carson@usdoj.gov