John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that on Feb. 21, a federal jury in Bridgeport found NORMAN PETERS, also known as “Ski," 38, of Stamford, guilty of cocaine distribution offenses. The trial before U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden began on February 19.
This matter stems from an investigation headed by the DEA’s Bridgeport High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force, Stamford Police Department, Norwalk Police Department and Connecticut State Police.
According to court documents and statements made in court, between approximately September 2015 and May 2016, Bobby Gutierrez, also known as “B.O.," and others, including his brother Wilfredo Gutierrez, conspired to distribute at least 10 kilograms of heroin in Fairfield County. Bobby Gutierrez and others also acquired kilogram quantities of cocaine from sources located in Florida and New York and sold the drug locally.
The evidence at trial demonstrated that, on April 1, 2016, Peters was intercepted over a court-authorized wiretap arranging to purchase 14 grams of cocaine from Gutierrez. Peters was then observed meeting with Gutierrez at B & B Deli in Bridgeport, which was owned by the Gutierrez family and served as a hub for drug dealing. Investigators stopped Peters after he drove from Bridgeport to Stamford. A search of his person revealed approximately 14 grams of cocaine.
The jury found Peters guilty of one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, and one count of use of a telephone to facilitate a drug trafficking felony, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of four years. A sentencing date is not scheduled.
On Nov. 21, 2016, Bobby Gutierrez pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin. On April 24, 2017, he was sentenced to 160 months of imprisonment and was ordered to forfeit $171,462 in cash that was seized during the investigation.
On March 16. 2017, Wilfredo Gutierrez was sentenced to 180 months of imprisonment.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anthony E. Kaplan and Elena L. Coronado.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
