David X. Sullivan, the United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that Jose Delrosario-Canela, also known as "Domi," has been sentenced to 32 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. This sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford for Delrosario-Canela's involvement in a drug trafficking ring based in Waterbury.
The investigation into two drug trafficking organizations operating in Waterbury was conducted by the FBI’s Waterbury Safe Streets Gang Task Force and other law enforcement agencies. These organizations were active around William Street and Maple Avenue, distributing cocaine, crack, and fentanyl through a network of sellers. The groups shared suppliers and collaborated to enhance their operations.
Law enforcement officials made two controlled purchases of crack cocaine from Delrosario-Canela, identifying him as a primary street-level distributor for the Maple Avenue organization. As a result of the investigation, 17 individuals faced federal charges, with Delrosario-Canela and several co-defendants arrested on November 29, 2023. During these arrests, authorities executed search warrants seizing significant quantities of drugs including approximately 700 grams of crack cocaine and over 1,600 dose bags of fentanyl/heroin along with firearms and cash.
Delrosario-Canela has been detained since his arrest and pleaded guilty on February 11, 2025, to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances.
The FBI’s task force included members from various police departments and state agencies. Additional support came from federal entities such as the DEA and Homeland Security Investigations. 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.
