Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that MARCO PADILLA, 51, of New Haven, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Alker Meyer in New Haven to 60 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for his role in a heroin trafficking ring.
According to court documents and statements made in court, the DEA’s New Haven Tactical Diversion Squad targeted a New Haven-based heroin trafficking organization. The investigation, which included court-authorized wiretaps, controlled purchases of narcotics and physical and video surveillance, revealed that members of the organization regularly purchased bulk quantities of heroin from suppliers located in the Bronx, New York, and sold the heroin through a network of redistributors, including PADILLA, on the streets of New Haven.
The investigation has resulted in federal charges against 23 individuals.
PADILLA has been detained since his arrest on March 16, 2017. On May 22, 2017, PADILLA pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and distribution of, heroin.
PADILLA’s criminal history includes numerous prior convictions, including several narcotics-related convictions.
The DEA’s New Haven Tactical Diversion Squad includes officers from the Bristol, Greenwich, Hamden, Milford, New Haven, Shelton, Vernon and Wilton Police Departments. The New Haven, East Haven and West Haven Police Departments, together with the U.S. Coast Guard, provided valuable assistance to the investigation.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amy C. Brown and Patrick F. Caruso.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
