Deirdre M. Daly, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that a federal grand jury sitting in Hartford returned an indictment today charging RAFAEL ORTIZ, also known as “Rizz," 48, of New Haven, with trafficking heroin.
The indictment alleges that on Aug. 2, 2013, ORTIZ possessed with intent to distribute heroin.
ORTIZ was arrested yesterday on a criminal complaint. He is currently detained.
If convicted, ORTIZ faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 30 years and a fine of up to $2 million.
This case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Robert N. Chatigny in Hartford.
This matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Haven Police Department, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John H. Durham.
Acting U.S. Attorney Daly stressed that an Indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
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Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
