Arrest In East Haven Sees 2 Charged With Drug Trafficking: Feds

EAST HAVEN, CT —Under investigation by numerous federal agencies since last year, a bust in East Haven Monday saw two from New Haven arrested and charged with trafficking cocaine and fentanyl, according to the Justice Department.

If convicted, Willie Franco, 33, and Daniella Fox, 31, face up to 20 years in federal prison, the U.S. Attorney for Connecticut said in a news release, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and fentanyl.

On March 2, investigators from the DEA and U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Narcotics and Bulk Cash Trafficking Task Force intercepted a USPS package headed for an address in East Haven associated with Franco and Fox. A court-authorized search of the package found a kilo of cocaine and a kilo of fentanyl, prosecutors said. Since July 2021, "suspicious parcels, which originated in Arizona and California" were mailed to the East Haven address and a second address associated with Franco and Fox, federal investigators said.

On Monday morning, law enforcement made a controlled delivery of the intercepted package to the East Haven address, per the U.S. Attorney. Franco and Fox, who were waiting in a parked car on that street, were arrested after Fox retrieved the package, authorities said.

The East Haven Police Department assisted with that arrest.

Afterwards, federal investigators said they seized a kilo of fentanyl, crack cocaine, a loaded Glock .40 pistol with an obliterated serial number and $300,000 in cash, during a search of Fox and Franco's New Haven house. Agents also seized a drum extended magazine for a high-capacity rifle, a bulletproof vest, ammunition, digital scales and other narcotics packaging paraphernalia, according to the U.S. Attorney.

Appearing before a U.S. Magistrate in New Haven Monday, they were ordered detained.

The ongoing investigation by federal authorities includes assistance from the New Haven and East Haven police departments and Connecticut State Police.

"We value the partnerships we have with local state and federal agencies," East Haven police Capt. Joseph M. Murgo said. "This case in particular is another example of collaborative, proactive police work between many different organizations who joined forces to combat the opioid epidemic."

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Narcotics and Bulk Cash Trafficking Task Force includes postal service investigators and the Connecticut Army National Guard, and the Hartford, New Britain, Meriden and Town of Groton police departments.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tara E. Levens and Konstantin Lantsman are prosecuting.

U.S. Attorney Leonard Boyle "stressed that a complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt."