Large-Scale Cocaine Dealer Sentenced to Prison
A man living in Bristol, Connecticut, was sentenced to prison for his role in a conspiracy to traffic kilograms of cocaine from Puerto Rico to the United States through the mail.
During the investigation, feds seized 14 kilograms of cocaine:
Striking an apparent blow to a drug ring operating in central Connecticut, federal authorities working an eight-month investigation seized more than 14 kilograms of cocaine shipped from Puerto Rico to destinations in Connecticut and other places in the region.
Miguel Freytes, 42, of Bristol was sentenced after pleading guilty to being part of a drug trafficking ring that mailed kilograms of cocaine from Puerto Rico to Connecticut and Massachusetts.
Freytes was arrested as a result of an investigation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Hartford Task Force and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS). The Department of Justice provides an enlightening account of the investigation: it began after law enforcement “developed evidence regarding a drug trafficking organization that was sending USPS parcels containing kilograms of cocaine from Puerto Rico to Connecticut and Massachusetts.”
Investigators intercepted and seized five suspicious packages sent to addresses in Connecticut and Massachusetts between July and December 2018. After opening the packages, investigators found multiple kilogram-sized blocks of cocaine.
Investigators also conducted surveillance at the addresses owned by the recipients of the packages. In some cases, law enforcement conducted controlled deliveries of seized drug packages. During the surveillance, investigators saw Freytes and his accomplices, Marcos Mendez, Omar Mendez, and others accept the delivery of the packages. Further investigations revealed that Roberto Muniz, of Puerto Rico, had sent the packages of cocaine to the defendant(s) in Bristol.
Law enforcement arrested Freytes and his accomplices on January 9, 2019. The arrests resulted in the seizure of a total of approximately 2.5 kilograms of cocaine, drug packaging material, and more than $150,000 in cash. Police also seized approximately one kilogram of cocaine from Freytes’ residence.
A federal grand jury indicted Freytes and his accomplices on January 23, 2019, on charges of one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine.
Freytes pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine on February 27, 2020. Two of his accomplices also pleaded guilty while another two are awaiting trial. Two more of his co-defendants are awaiting trial.
US District Judge Victor A. Bolden sentenced Freytes on July 15, 2021, to five years in federal prison. The imprisonment will be followed by four years of supervised release.
During the investigation, feds seized 14 kilograms of cocaine:
Striking an apparent blow to a drug ring operating in central Connecticut, federal authorities working an eight-month investigation seized more than 14 kilograms of cocaine shipped from Puerto Rico to destinations in Connecticut and other places in the region.
Miguel Freytes, 42, of Bristol was sentenced after pleading guilty to being part of a drug trafficking ring that mailed kilograms of cocaine from Puerto Rico to Connecticut and Massachusetts.
Freytes was arrested as a result of an investigation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Hartford Task Force and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS). The Department of Justice provides an enlightening account of the investigation: it began after law enforcement “developed evidence regarding a drug trafficking organization that was sending USPS parcels containing kilograms of cocaine from Puerto Rico to Connecticut and Massachusetts.”
Investigators intercepted and seized five suspicious packages sent to addresses in Connecticut and Massachusetts between July and December 2018. After opening the packages, investigators found multiple kilogram-sized blocks of cocaine.
Investigators also conducted surveillance at the addresses owned by the recipients of the packages. In some cases, law enforcement conducted controlled deliveries of seized drug packages. During the surveillance, investigators saw Freytes and his accomplices, Marcos Mendez, Omar Mendez, and others accept the delivery of the packages. Further investigations revealed that Roberto Muniz, of Puerto Rico, had sent the packages of cocaine to the defendant(s) in Bristol.
Law enforcement arrested Freytes and his accomplices on January 9, 2019. The arrests resulted in the seizure of a total of approximately 2.5 kilograms of cocaine, drug packaging material, and more than $150,000 in cash. Police also seized approximately one kilogram of cocaine from Freytes’ residence.
A federal grand jury indicted Freytes and his accomplices on January 23, 2019, on charges of one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine.
Freytes pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine on February 27, 2020. Two of his accomplices also pleaded guilty while another two are awaiting trial. Two more of his co-defendants are awaiting trial.
US District Judge Victor A. Bolden sentenced Freytes on July 15, 2021, to five years in federal prison. The imprisonment will be followed by four years of supervised release.
