New Haven Man Sentenced to 52 Months in Federal Prison for Role in Drug Trafficking Ring

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that KELVIN MUNOZ, also known as “Kel,” 29, of New Haven, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Sarala V. Nagala in Hartford to 52 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for his participation in a New Haven area drug trafficking ring.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in June 2022, the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force initiated an investigation into a drug trafficking organization that was operating in the Fair Haven neighborhood of New Haven.  The investigation included the use of court-authorized wiretaps, physical surveillance, and several controlled purchases of fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, and crack cocaine from Munoz and others.  The investigation also identified individuals who were acquiring and distributing prescription narcotic pills.

On September 20, 2022, investigators made a controlled purchase of a Polymer 80 .40 caliber handgun (“ghost gun”), ammunition, and a quantity of fentanyl from Munoz and a co-defendant.  On March 9, 2023, shortly after Munoz completed a meeting with his state probation officer, investigators made a controlled purchase of approximately 48 grams of fentanyl from him.

Munoz has been detained since his arrest on a state charge on August 23, 2023.  On April 5, 2024, he pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, controlled substances.

This investigation, which resulted in federal charges against 12 individuals, has been conducted by FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force, which includes members from the FBI, the Connecticut State Police, the Connecticut Department of Correction, and the New Haven, Milford, East Haven, West Haven, and Wallingford Police Departments.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan J. Keefe through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program.  OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.  Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.