John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that RAFAEL NEFTALI CASTILLO BAEZ, 34, a citizen of the Dominican Republic last residing in the Bronx, N.Y., was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer in New Haven to 24 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for supplying heroin to a New Haven drug 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 led by Bienvenido and Antonio Gonzalez. The investigation, which included court-authorized wiretaps, controlled purchases of narcotics and physical and video surveillance, revealed that the Gonzalez brothers purchased bulk quantities of heroin from CASTILLO BAEZ and other New York suppliers and sold the heroin through a network of redistributors in New Haven and elsewhere. CASTILLO BAEZ regularly traveled from New York to Connecticut to deliver up to a kilogram of heroin at a time to the Gonzalez organization.
The investigation resulted in federal charges against 24 individuals.
CASTILLO BAEZ has been detained since his arrest on March 24, 2017. On May 25, 2017, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and distribution of, heroin.
CASTILLO BAEZ, who illegally entered the U.S. in 2010, faces immigration proceedings when he completes his prison term.
Bienvenido Gonzalez and Antonio Gonzalez pleaded guilty to related charges. On March 28, Bienvenido Gonzalez was sentenced to 144 months of imprisonment. Antonio Gonzalez awaits sentencing.
The DEA’s New Haven Tactical Diversion Squad includes officers from the Bristol, Hamden, Milford, Monroe, New Haven, Shelton, Wallingford 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 Natasha M. Freismuth and Patrick F. Caruso.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
