Lester Arrington, 34, of Naugatuck, pleaded guilty on June 1 before U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to a cocaine trafficking charge, according to the U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut.
According to court documents and statements made in court, as part of a Homeland Security Task Force investigation, Connecticut State Police troopers stopped a 2024 Subaru Crosstrek on February 23 in Trumbull. Arrington was a passenger in the vehicle. A K9 sniff alerted officers to narcotics, and a subsequent search revealed approximately 21 kilograms of cocaine hidden in two compartments installed under each front seat. Arrington was arrested on state charges at that time.
Arrington pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine. The offense carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of ten years and a maximum term of life imprisonment. He is released on a $150,000 bond pending sentencing scheduled for August 31.
The driver of the Subaru Crosstrek, Reginald Rogers, pleaded guilty to the same charge last week. Both Arrington and Rogers have agreed to forfeit the vehicle involved.
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The task force involves multiple agencies, including agents from federal law enforcement and local police departments working together under interagency collaboration.
The U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut prosecutes federal crimes and handles civil cases for the U.S. government within Connecticut; it employs about 68 assistant U.S. attorneys and serves as part of the Department of Justice serving all residents statewide, according to its official website.