John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JACKIE HERNANDEZ, 42, of Norwich, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant in Hartford to 24 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release, for her role in a southeastern Connecticut drug trafficking ring.
This matter stems from an investigation led by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Connecticut Statewide Narcotics Taskforce East, Connecticut Department of Correction and the New London, Waterford, City of Groton and Stonington Police Departments, into the distribution of narcotics and illegal possession of firearms in southeastern Connecticut. The investigation included court-authorized wiretaps and controlled purchases and seizures of heroin, cocaine and crack cocaine, and firearms. Hernandez, who served as a drug courier for another member of the conspiracy, would transport kilogram-quantities of cocaine from a source in New York to Connecticut.
In December 2018, Hernandez was arrested on related state charges after she was found in possession of approximately one kilogram of cocaine.
Hernandez was arrested on a federal criminal complaint on Feb. 21, 2019. On March 5, 2019, a grand jury in Hartford returned an indictment charging Hernandez and 23 other individuals with various offenses. On August 6, 2019, a superseding indictment included charges against an additional two defendants.
On Sept. 13, 2019, Hernandez pleaded guilty to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine.
This investigation is being conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Marshals Service, Homeland Security Investigations, Connecticut Statewide Narcotics Taskforce East, Connecticut Department of Correction and the New London, Waterford, City of Groton, Stonington, Norwich, Old Saybrook and UConn Police Departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Natasha M. Freismuth.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
