Groton Man Sentenced to Prison for Role in Cocaine Trafficking Conspiracy

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that STEVEN COLLAZO, 32, of Groton, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford to 18 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for his involvement in a conspiracy to receive large quantities of cocaine from Puerto Rico through the U.S. Mail for distribution in Connecticut and elsewhere.  Collazo must serve the first three months of his supervised release in home detention.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in April 2021, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Narcotics and Bulk Cash Trafficking Task Force and the Drug Enforcement Administration began investigating a cocaine trafficking operation headed by Carlos Antonio Crespo-Febus.  The investigation revealed that Crespo-Febus was coordinating the shipment of parcels, typically containing two kilograms of cocaine, from U.S. Post Offices in Puerto Rico to various “drop addresses” in New London County.  Collazo, who served as the primary “runner” for Crespo-Febus, picked up parcels from the drop addresses and delivered them to Crespo-Febus at Crespo-Febus’s New London residence.

Investigators intercepted and seized approximately 16 kilograms of cocaine that were mailed from Puerto Rico to Connecticut, and identified dozens of other suspicious parcels that likely contained kilogram quantities of cocaine.

Crespo-Febus and Collazo were arrested on September 20, 2021.  On November 10, 2022, Collazo pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute cocaine.

Collazo, who is released on a $100,000 bond, is required to report to prison on October 4.

Crespo-Febus, of New London, pleaded guilty on October 21, 2022.  He is detained while awaiting sentencing.

This matter has been investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Narcotics and Bulk Cash Trafficking Task Force and the Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from the New London and Town of Groton Police Departments.  The Task Force includes members from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Postal Service – Office of the Inspector General, the Connecticut Army National Guard, and the Hartford, New Britain, Meriden and Town of Groton Police Departments.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Konstantin Lantsman.