Man Sent Cocaine From Puerto Rico To CT Using Mail System: Feds

NEW BRITAIN, CT — A New Britain man was sentenced to more than eight years in prison for trafficking cocaine from Puerto Rico to Connecticut using the U.S. Mail system, according to a statement from federal prosecutors. Erick Suarez, 31, will also serve four years of supervised release.

In 2017, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Hartford Task Force and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service began investigating a drug trafficking organization sending drugs from Puerto Rico to various locations using the postal system.

According to the statement, the investigation revealed that Suarez coordinated shipments of cocaine from individuals in Puerto Rico to addresses in New Britain, Hartford, Newington, East Hartford and Bridgeport, as well as Springfield, Massachusetts.

Investigators identified more than 50 suspect parcels that were mailed from Puerto Rico, and intercepted five of the suspect parcels, each of which contained approximately one kilogram of cocaine.

Several members of the cocaine trafficking ring were arrested in April 2018, including Jerry Rodriguez, aka “Bebo,” of Hartford. Investigators searched Rodriguez’s residence revealed approximately 400 grams of cocaine, approximately 160 grams of heroin, items used to process and package narcotics for street sale, and a loaded .45 caliber handgun.

Investigators also searched Suarez’s residence, as well as two storage units used by Suarez and one storage unit used by Rodriguez in West Hartford. The search of Suarez’s storage units revealed more than $50,000 in cash and a search of Rodriguez’s storage unit revealed additional items used to process and package narcotics.

Suarez was arrested on April 12, 2018 and has been detained since his arrest. Suarez, Rodriguez and five other individuals were indicted shortly there after on a charge of conspiracy to distribute cocaine. Suarez pleaded guilty on Sept. 10, 2019.

Rodriguez has pleaded guilty and is detained while awaiting sentencing.

The DEA’s Hartford Task Force includes personnel from the DEA Hartford Resident Office and the Bristol, Hartford, East Hartford, Manchester, New Britain, Rocky Hill, Wethersfield, Windsor Locks and Willimantic Police Departments. The DEA Puerto Rico Caribbean Corridor Strike Force and U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Newark Division, San Juan (P.R.) Office, have assisted the investigation. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey M. Stone.