John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that GUSTAVO GARCIA, 30, of Queens, New York, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Janet Bond Arterton in New Haven to 24 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for trafficking marijuana. Judge Arterton also ordered GARCIA to pay a $1,000 fine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in June and July 2017, GARCIA delivered between approximately 120 to 130 pounds of marijuana to William Reyes in Stamford, including approximately 40 pounds of marijuana that GARCIA sold to Reyes for approximately $80,000 and delivered in July.
GARCIA was arrested on Oct. 3, 2017. On that date, a search of GARCIA’s residence revealed approximately two pounds of marijuana, narcotics paraphernalia, $93,560 in cash, and approximately $100,000 in jewelry that was purchased with marijuana trafficking proceeds.
GARCIA has forfeited the seized cash and jewelry.
Reyes was arrested on July 26, 2017. On that date, investigators conducted court-authorized searches of Reyes’ Stamford residence and a residence in Lagrangeville, N.Y., that Reyes and another individual used to grow, process and distribute marijuana. A search of the Stamford residence revealed approximately 18 kilograms of marijuana, paraphernalia associated with narcotics distribution, and $71,004 in cash, and a search of the Lagrangeville residence revealed 140 marijuana plants and related equipment.
On January 9, 2018, GARCIA pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana.
Reyes pleaded guilty to the same charge and, on March 29, was sentenced to 41 months of imprisonment.
This matter is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Stamford Police Department and New York State Police. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anthony E. Kaplan and Sarala V. Nagala.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
