John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that RAFAEL LOPEZ-MACIAS, 46, and his brother, JAIME LOPEZ, 37, both citizens of Mexico involved in trafficking narcotics, were sentenced today in Bridgeport federal court. U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden sentenced Lopez-Macias to 120 months of imprisonment and Lopez to 60 months of imprisonment.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Lopez-Macias, Lopez and others conspired to traffic large quantities of narcotics, including cocaine and methamphetamine.
In June 1998, Lopez-Macias was convicted in California state court of a cocaine trafficking offense. In February 2001, he was deported to Mexico. Lopez-Macias illegally reentered the U.S. and, in March 2009, was arrested in Connecticut for a forgery offense. In November 2009, he was again deported to Mexico.
Lopez-Macias again illegally reentered the U.S. and, between March and June 2018, he was intercepted on a court-authorized wiretap discussing the distribution of cocaine and methamphetamine.
On June 11, 2018, in New Rochelle, New York, Lopez-Macias and a co-conspirator sold a kilogram of cocaine and a sample of methamphetamine for $31,500 to an individual working with law enforcement.
On June 26, 2018, Lopez-Macias traveled from Norwalk to New Rochelle, picked up a kilogram of methamphetamine from his co-conspirator, and began driving back to Norwalk with the narcotics. While en route to Norwalk, Lopez-Macias was stopped by law enforcement and arrested for an immigration violation. Officers searched the vehicle and seized the kilogram of methamphetamine.
As to Lopez, he was intercepted on a court-authorized wiretap discussing the distribution of cocaine and, in May 2018, he was involved in the purchase of a kilogram of cocaine for approximately $28,000 from a source of supply in New Rochelle, New York.
Lopez-Macias has been detained since his arrest on June 26, 2018. On March 27, 2019, he pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, and one count of reentry of removed alien.
Lopez has been detained since his arrest on Oct. 11, 2018. On April 1, 2019, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine.
Both defendants face immigration proceedings when they complete their prison terms.
This matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, Connecticut State Police, and the New Rochelle, Norwalk and Stamford Police Departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anthony E. Kaplan and Lauren C. Clark.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
