Two men have been sentenced to federal prison for their roles in a narcotics trafficking operation in southwestern Connecticut, according to an announcement from David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut.
On October 17, Ronald Vincent, 30, of Stratford, received a sentence of 84 months in prison and four years of supervised release. Marquis Jones, 30, of Derby, was sentenced on October 20 to 40 months in prison and three years of supervised release by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford.
Court documents show that the FBI Bridgeport Safe Streets Task Force began investigating gang activity in Bridgeport’s South End and West Side in 2022. Investigators identified Christian Pichardo as a supplier providing various narcotics to gang members and other distributors. The investigation included court-authorized wiretaps intercepting calls and text messages between Pichardo and his associates—including Vincent and Jones—controlled drug purchases, and seizures of drugs from members of the conspiracy as well as their customers.
Some substances seized during the investigation were found to be mixed with fentanyl analogues, nitazines (synthetic opioids more potent than fentanyl), and xylazine (a tranquilizer used for large animals).
During the period under investigation, both Vincent and Jones lived in Bridgeport. Vincent was described as a close associate of Pichardo who mainly trafficked fentanyl. Jones distributed both fentanyl and crack cocaine to gang members and others.
Vincent and Jones were arrested on August 5, 2024. Both later pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. After being released on $100,000 bonds each, they are scheduled to report to prison on December 16 (Vincent) and January 7 (Jones).
Christian Pichardo also pleaded guilty related to this case; he was sentenced on July 14, 2025, to twelve years in prison.
The FBI’s Bridgeport Safe Streets Task Force led the investigation with support from the Drug Enforcement Administration as well as police departments from Bridgeport, Stratford, and Norwalk. Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen L. Peck is prosecuting the case through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program. More information about OCDETF can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
