A Waterbury man has been sentenced to over five years in federal prison for his involvement in a drug trafficking operation. Tommy Figueroa, also known as "Coco," was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford to 66 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release. The sentencing was announced by David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut.
The FBI's Waterbury Safe Streets Gang Task Force and other law enforcement agencies investigated two drug trafficking organizations based in Waterbury. These groups operated in the areas of William Street and Maple Avenue, distributing cocaine, crack, and fentanyl through a network of sellers. They shared supply sources and collaborated to enhance their operations.
Figueroa served as a shift-boss for the Maple Street organization, managing street-level distributors who sold narcotics around the clock, primarily crack cocaine. Investigators conducted several controlled purchases from Figueroa and found he had acquired two firearms for protection.
Figueroa was arrested on state charges on September 25, 2023, leading to the seizure of the firearms. While detained, he continued drug trafficking activities through his girlfriend at that time, Neysa Vazquez-Ferrer.
Seventeen individuals faced federal charges due to this investigation. On January 28, 2025, Figueroa pleaded guilty in federal court to possession of a firearm related to a drug trafficking crime.
Vazquez-Ferrer also pleaded guilty to a drug trafficking offense and was sentenced on May 22, 2025, to 36 months of imprisonment.
The FBI’s task force included members from multiple law enforcement agencies such as the Waterbury Police Department and the Naugatuck Police Department among others. The DEA and other federal agencies provided assistance in this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Natasha Freismuth and Shan Patel are prosecuting this case under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program.
U.S. Attorney Sullivan expressed gratitude towards the Waterbury State Attorney’s Office for its cooperation throughout this case's investigation and prosecution.
