Hugo Ivan Ramirez-Bellozo, a 35-year-old Mexican national, has been sentenced to five years in federal prison for his involvement in a fentanyl trafficking operation based in Hartford. U.S. District Judge Robert N. Chatigny handed down the sentence following Ramirez-Bellozo's guilty plea to conspiracy charges related to distributing and possessing with intent to distribute over 40 grams of fentanyl.
The case emerged from an investigation by the DEA Hartford Task Force into a drug trafficking organization operating out of Hartford. The group was involved in distributing significant quantities of fentanyl and other narcotics, as well as laundering proceeds from their activities. In January 2022, authorities seized $92,000 hidden in a minivan linked to the operation.
Further investigation led to a search warrant executed on November 16, 2022, at an apartment on Putnam Heights in Hartford. Law enforcement discovered approximately 1.5 kilograms of fentanyl, narcotics processing equipment, and a loaded .40 caliber semi-automatic handgun during the search. Ramirez-Bellozo was present at the scene along with Harold Luis Del Orbe and others.
Following his arrest on November 16, 2022, Ramirez-Bellozo has remained detained. He pleaded guilty on November 21, 2024. After serving his sentence, he will face removal proceedings.
Harold Luis Del Orbe also pleaded guilty to related charges and received a ten-year prison sentence on May 6, 2025.
The investigation was carried out by the DEA’s Hartford Task Force with assistance from various local police departments including those from Connecticut State Police and multiple cities such as Bristol and East Hartford.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Geoffrey M. Stone and Robert S. Dearington are prosecuting this case under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program.
