Six individuals have been arrested on federal charges connected to an alleged narcotics and firearms trafficking ring operating in Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey. The arrests were announced by David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut.
The defendants are Manolin Vargas D’Olon (“Robelin”), 30, of Waterbury; Giovanni Benoit, 41, of New York; Alvaro Perez, 40, of Waterbury; Anderson Amador Nova, 35, of Waterbury; Angel Vasquez (“Bebo”), 36, of Hamden; and Andy Martinez, 46, of Paterson, New Jersey.
According to court documents and statements made in court, the FBI and Homeland Security Task Force New Haven (HSTF New Haven) have been investigating a trafficking organization led by a Dominican national based in the Dominican Republic. This individual is accused of coordinating drug and gun distribution through multiple redistributors across the three states. Investigators conducted over 30 controlled purchases from these redistributors that resulted in seizures totaling more than one kilogram of fentanyl, over 200 grams of methamphetamine, and 17 firearms. Laboratory analysis found some fentanyl mixed with bromazolam—a synthetic benzodiazepine not scheduled at the time but increasingly present in overdose cases.
It is further alleged that the Dominican national claimed he could direct violence against people in the U.S.
All six defendants appeared in federal court today. Vargas D’Olon and Perez—both citizens of the Dominican Republic—as well as Nova and Vasquez were detained. Benoit and Martinez were released on bond to home confinement.
A federal grand jury in New Haven returned a 15-count indictment on December 9 charging all six with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine. If convicted on this charge: Vargas D’Olon faces a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years up to life imprisonment; Benoit, Perez, and Amador Nova face five years minimum up to forty years maximum; Vasquez faces up to twenty years. The indictment also includes counts related to distribution offenses.
Additionally, Vargas D’Olon, Benoit, Vasquez, and Martinez are charged with engaging in a firearms trafficking conspiracy. Other firearm-related charges include unlawful possession by an alien illegally present (Vargas D’Olon), unlawful possession by a felon (Vasquez), and unlawful transfer (Vargas D’Olon, Benoit, Vasquez). Each carries up to fifteen years’ imprisonment if convicted.
In May 2025 Vargas D’Olon was arrested on state narcotics charges. A cellphone seized at that time contained encrypted files depicting child pornography via Telegram cache folders. On December 9 he was separately indicted for possession of child pornography—a charge carrying up to twenty years’ imprisonment.
U.S. Attorney Sullivan stated: "An indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt."
This prosecution forms part of the Homeland Security Task Force initiative established under Executive Order 14159: Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF brings together agencies including FBI New York/Newark/Tampa/Orlando Resident Agency/Legal Attache Santo Domingo as well as local police departments from several Connecticut cities for coordinated investigations targeting criminal cartels operating within U.S borders or abroad.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathan J. Guevremont.
