Superseding Indictment Charges Hartford Man with Drug Trafficking, Gun Possession Offenses

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that a federal grand jury in New Haven has returned a superseding indictment charging LUIS DeJESUS, 29, of Hartford, with narcotics distribution and firearm possession offenses.

As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, DeJesus’s criminal history includes felony convictions in state court for criminal possession of a firearm and burglary in the third degree.  In 2022, members of the Connecticut State Police’s Statewide Narcotics Task Force – North Central Office conducted a series of controlled purchases of narcotics from DeJesus.  DeJesus was arrested on state charges on December 16, 2022.  On that date, a court-authorized search of his Hartford residence revealed approximately 500 grams of fentanyl, 97 grams of crack cocaine, approximately one kilogram of marijuana, drug processing and packaging materials, a loaded Glock 45 9mm handgun, and approximately $52,000 cash.  The case was adopted for federal prosecution and, on March 7, 2023, a grand jury returned an indictment charging DeJesus with one count of possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and a quantity of cocaine, and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.

It is further alleged that, after his federal arrest, DeJesus was released on a $100,000 bond and into home confinement at residence of a family member on Warren Street in Hartford.  DeJesus was arrested on November 20, 2023, after law enforcement executed a search warrant at the residence.  As investigators entered the residence, DeJesus threw fentanyl out of a window.  A search of the residence revealed an additional quantity of fentanyl, a small quantity of cocaine, and drug processing and packaging materials.  In total, DeJesus is alleged to have possessed more than 400 grams of fentanyl on that date.

On February 20, 2024, the grand jury returned a superseding indictment charging DeJesus with an additional count of possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.

If convicted, DeJesus faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life for each of the narcotics offenses, and maximum term of imprisonment of 15 years for the firearm offense.

DeJesus, who has been detained since November 20, 2023, appeared today in Hartford federal court and pleaded not guilty to the charges in the superseding indictment.

U.S. Attorney Avery stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt.  Charges are only allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This matter is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Hartford Resident Office and the Connecticut State Police’s Statewide Narcotics Task Force – North Central Office.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Reed Durham.