Three Waterbury Residents Charged with Trafficking Fentanyl Pills

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England, today announced that RAMONA ESPINOSA, 57, MANUEL LIRIANO, 38, and JOSE COLLADO, 36, all of Waterbury, have been charged with federal fentanyl distribution offenses.

As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Bridgeport High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force identified Espinosa, Liriano, and Collado as fentanyl pill traffickers.  In September 2023, investigators made two controlled purchases of a total of 550 fentanyl pills from Espinosa.  On November 29, 2023, investigators made a controlled purchase of 2,000 fentanyl pills from Espinosa and, on that date, identified Collado as her drug supplier.

On December 12, 2023, a court-authorized search of a Waterbury residence shared by Espinosa and Liriano resulted in the seizure of approximately 10,000 fentanyl pills.  Espinosa was arrested on a federal criminal complaint at that time.  Liriano was arrested on December 16 and Collado was arrested on December 27.

On December 27, 2023, a federal grand jury in Hartford returned an indictment charging Espinosa, Liriano, and Collado with conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, an offense that carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years.  In addition, the indictment charges Espinosa with one count of possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, which also carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years, and Espinosa with three counts, and Liriano and Collado with one count, of possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, fentanyl, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.

Espinosa appeared today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Maria E. Garcia in New Haven and pleaded not guilty to the charges.  Liriano and Collado were previously arraigned and also entered pleas of not guilty.

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

Espinosa, Liriano, and Collado are each released on a $50,000 bond pending trial.

This matter is being investigated the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Bridgeport High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force, which includes personnel from the DEA Bridgeport Resident Office, the Connecticut State Police, and the Norwalk, Stamford, Stratford, Milford, and Danbury Police Departments.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren C. Clark.