John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that FRANCISCO LEON, also known as “Gordo," 41, of Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to 72 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for trafficking heroin and illegally possessing firearms.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in June 2019, Hartford Police received information that Leon was selling large quantities of narcotics from an apartment located at 777 Maple Avenue in Hartford. In July 2019, investigators made a controlled purchase of heroin from Leon.
On July 9, 2018, investigators conducted a court-authorized search of the apartment and seized approximately 9,700 bags of heroin, various drug paraphernalia, and a loaded handgun. Leon was arrested on state charges on that date. At the time of his arrest, Leon possessed a U-Haul access cared and three keys from a U-Haul storage facility located on Capitol Avenue in Hartford. A subsequent search of a storage unit controlled by Leon revealed approximately nine kilograms of heroin, two loaded handguns, and assorted ammunition.
Leon’s criminal history includes multiple state convictions related to the possession and sale of narcotics.
On March 28, 2019, Leon pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute heroin and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Judge Dooley ordered Leon to forfeit $13,980 that was seized from him during the investigation.
Leon, who is released on $250,000 bond, is required to report to prison on Oct. 29, 2020.
This matter was investigated by the Hartford Police Department and the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force. The Task Force includes members of the Hartford Police Department, East Hartford Police Department, Connecticut State Police and Connecticut Department of Correction. This case was being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian P. Leaming.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
