Indictment Charges West Haven and Hartford Residents with Narcotics, Firearm Offenses

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that a federal grand jury in New Haven returned an 11-count indictment today charging ANTHONY SABATO, 57, of West Haven, and MIGUEL JOEL ROMAN, 25, of Hartford, with narcotics trafficking offenses.  SABATO is also charged with illegally possessing a firearm.

This matter stems from an investigation being conducted by the FBI’s New Haven Safe Streets Task Force, the West Haven Police Department and the Darien Police Department.  The investigation employed the use of an undercover law enforcement officer.

As alleged in previously-filed court documents, between January and March 2015, the undercover officer purchased crack cocaine from SABATO and ROMAN.  SABATO and ROMAN also negotiated the purchase of a handgun from the undercover officer, and arranged to sell him two ounces of crack cocaine at a price of $2,000 per ounce. SABATO and ROMAN were arrested on March 24, 2015, after they met the undercover officer at SABATO’s West Haven home to consummate the crack cocaine and firearm transactions.

The indictment charges SABATO and ROMAN with one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 280 grams or more of cocaine base (“crack cocaine”), an offense that that carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life.  SABATO and ROMAN are also charged with two counts of possession with intent to distribute and distribution of 28 grams or more of cocaine base, an offense that carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years on each count, and four counts of possession with intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine base, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years on each count.

In addition, the indictment charges SABATO with one count of maintaining a drug-involved premises within 1000 feet of a school, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, two counts of possession with intent to distribute and distribution of oxycodone, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years on each count, and one count of possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.

U.S. Attorney Daly stressed that 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 matter has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant in Hartford.

The FBI’s New Haven Safe Streets Task Force includes personnel from the FBI, West Haven Police Department, New Haven Police Department, Milford Police Department and Connecticut Department of Correction.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracy Lee Dayton.