John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that a federal jury in New Haven has found ROCKY SAMAS, also known as “Twin," 48, of Bridgeport, guilty of one count of possession with intent to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine base (“crack"), and one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine. The verdicts were returned this afternoon before U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer.
According to the evidence disclosed during the two-day trial, between August and October 2018, investigators conducted three controlled purchases of crack cocaine from Samas in Bridgeport. On November 6, 2018, Samas was arrested on a federal criminal complaint. On that date, investigators searched his Bridgeport residence and seized approximately 80 grams of crack cocaine, approximately 200 grams of powder cocaine, approximately $14,000 in cash, and two digital scales.
Judge Meyer scheduled sentencing for March 19, 2020, at which time Samas faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years.
Samas is released on a $200,000 bond pending sentencing.
Samas’ criminal history includes multiple drug convictions, including a federal conviction in 2005 for possession with intent to distribute and distribution of crack and powder cocaine. On Sept. 21, 2005, he was sentenced to 240 months of imprisonment for those offenses. He was subsequently resentenced to 96 months of imprisonment, pursuant to changes in the federal sentencing guidelines for crack cocaine offenses, and was released from federal prison in December 2011.
This matter has been investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Bridgeport High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force, and the Stamford and Bridgeport Police Departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Maria del Pilar Gonzalez, Hal Chen and Joseph Vizcarrondo.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
