Hartford Heroin Dealer Sentenced To 5 Years In Federal Prison

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that ERIC COLON, 29, of Hartford, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to 60 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release, for conspiring to possess and distribute heroin, some of which he stole from his drug supplier.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in January 2013, the DEA’s Hartford Task Force began an investigation into the narcotics distribution activities of Luis Fernandez of East Hartford.  The investigation, which included the use of court-authorized wiretaps and controlled purchases of narcotics, revealed that Fernandez’s family members and associates in southern California shipped heroin, cocaine and marijuana to Fernandez at various addresses in the Hartford area.  Fernandez, who also was supplied with narcotics from individuals in New York, sold the drugs locally to other dealers and customers.

The investigation revealed that COLON acquired distribution quantities of heroin from co-defendant Jose Rivera-Baron on several occasions.  During the course of the investigation, COLON, on behalf of co-defendant Joshua Saez, made arrangements to obtain approximately 140 grams of heroin from Rivera-Baron.  On August 16, 2013, while under law enforcement surveillance, Rivera-Baron met with COLON and Saez in the parking lot of a restaurant on Franklin Avenue in Hartford.  Following the meeting, COLON drove away at high rate of speed.  Investigators believed that Rivera-Baron had been robbed and pursued COLON’s car.  Saez exited the car and was taken into custody, but the chase of COLON was terminated for public safety reasons.

A search of Saez’s person revealed two handguns, as well as 138.1 grams of heroin that SAEZ and Colon had stolen from Rivera-Baron.

The quantity of heroin that Saez possessed would have produced nearly 7000 individual dosage bags and had a street value of approximately $35,000.

COLON was arrested on October 9, 2013.  On October 20, 2014, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin.

More than 20 individuals have been charged with narcotics distribution and related offenses as a result of this investigation.  Fernandez, Saez and Rivera-Baron have pleaded guilty and, on December 2, 2014, Saez was sentenced to 71 months of imprisonment.  Fernandez and Rivera-Baron await sentencing.

This investigation has been led by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Hartford Task Force, including personnel from the DEA Hartford Resident Office and the Bristol, Hartford, Manchester, New Britain, Newington, and Wethersfield Police Departments.  Agencies assisting the investigation include the DEA in New Haven, Bridgeport, Los Angeles and Panama, Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Connecticut State Police, State of Connecticut Office of Adult Probation, and the Hartford, East Hartford and New Britain Police Departments.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys S. Dave Vatti and Assistant U.S. Attorney Gabriel J. Vidoni.

PUBLIC AFFAIRS CONTACT:

U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
Tom Carson
(203) 821-3722
thomas.carson@usdoj.gov