Police Bust Drug Factory, Seize Fentanyl, Crack Cocaine & Opioid Pills

DANBURY, CT — Three Danbury men and one from New Milford were arrested Wednesday on drug charges following a months-long investigation.

The Danbury Police Department and a Brookfield Police Detective initiated "Operation Trinity Café" following a drug overdose reported to the Brookfield Police.

Police identified Kenny Miliano, 35, of Abbey Lane in Danbury as the person who supplied the drugs to the overdose victim. Investigators said Miliano had a "localized organization" that included Danbury residents Ariel Cuevas, 34, of Mill Ridge Road and Herman Davis, 34, of High Ridge Road; and New Milford's Lindsey Salerno, of Willow Springs.

Early on the morning of March 8, members of the Danbury and Brookfield Police Departments, with the assistance of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New Milford, Ridgefield, and Newtown Police Departments, executed a total of 18 search and seizure warrants related to all four men, and two arrest warrants for Miliano. Locations targeted in the warrants included the homes of the four suspects.

Police seized an estimated 2 pounds of crack cocaine, 5 ounces of powder cocaine, 4 pounds of fentanyl, 1.6 pounds of opioid pills, and drug paraphernalia. Investigators also claimed approximately $20,000 in cash, assorted jewelry, and high-end sneakers which they believed to be directly related to the profits of the drug trafficking operation.

On Wednesday, Miliano, Davis and Cuevas were charged with four counts of possession of a controlled substance, four counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell, conspiracy to commit possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Miliano was charged with an additional 10 counts of possession of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell and conspiracy to commit possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell from the arrest warrant.

Police charged Salerno with four counts of possession of a controlled substance, four counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell, operating a drug factory and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Miliano was held on a $1,000,000 bond for Wednesday's offenses, and a $750,000 bond for the warrant offenses. Davis and Cuevas were held on $750,000 bonds each. Salerno was processed and charged by New Milford Police and later released, according to a news release from the City of Danbury.

According to the DEA, producing illicit fentanyl is not an exact science. Two milligrams of fentanyl can be lethal depending on a person’s body size, tolerance and past usage. DEA analysis has found counterfeit pills ranging from .02 to 5.1 milligrams (more than twice the lethal dose) of fentanyl per tablet.

"It is possible for someone to take a pill without knowing it contains fentanyl. It is also possible to take a pill knowing it contains fentanyl, but with no way of knowing if it contains a lethal dose," said city spokesperson Erin Henry.