John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Joseph W. Cronin, Inspector in Charge of the Boston Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England, today announced that a federal grand jury in New Haven returned a three-count indictment yesterday charging MIGUEL ANGEL MENDEZ-URENA, 34, of Bridgeport, with cocaine trafficking offenses.
As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, Mendez-Urena coordinated the shipment of cocaine through the U.S. Mail from Puerto Rico to various locations in Bridgeport, and the shipment of drug proceeds to individuals in Puerto Rico.
On May 15, 2019, Mendez-Urena was arrested on a federal criminal complaint after he accepted delivery of a parcel containing approximately 500 grams of cocaine that had been mailed from Puerto Rico.
The indictment charges Mendez-Urena with one count of conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, five kilograms or more of cocaine, which carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life; one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, and one count of using the U.S. Mail to distribute the proceeds of unlawful activity, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years.
Mendez-Urena has been detained since his arrest.
U.S. Attorney Durham 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.
This matter is being investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rahul Kale.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
