Police Help Investigate Case That Sent Drug Dealer To Prison

NEW HAVEN, CT — East Haven Police helped to investigate a case that just landed a New Haven man in federal prison for the next 30 months.

According to federal prosecutors, Michael Miller, 38, was sentenced for distributing heroin and cocaine.

According to court documents and statements made in court, an investigation headed by the Drug Enforcement Administration New Haven Task Force and New Haven Police Department revealed that Malbin Rubiera-Herrera, also known as “Chaca,” acquired heroin and cocaine from sources in Connecticut and New Jersey and distributed the drugs through a network of associates, including Miller, in the greater New Haven area. Between October and December 2018, investigators made controlled purchases of heroin and cocaine from Rubiera-Herrera.

Subsequent court-authorized wiretaps revealed a widespread narcotics trafficking conspiracy that involved the trafficking of kilogram-quantities of heroin into Connecticut.

In January and February 2019, Miller was intercepted numerous times on recorded calls and text messages ordering distribution quantities of heroin and cocaine from Rubiera-Herrera. At the time, Miller was on escape status with the State of Connecticut. On September 10, 2018, Miller failed to return to a halfway house where he was serving a state sentence. He has been detained since April 5, 2019.

On June 5, 2019, a grand jury returned a superseding indictment charging Miller, Rubiera-Herrera and 12 other individuals with heroin, cocaine and fentanyl trafficking offenses. On August 19, Miller pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with the intent, to distribute heroin and cocaine.

A search of Rubiera-Herrera’s residence at the time of arrest on April 30, 2019, revealed approximately 300 grams of fentanyl. He pleaded guilty on June 20.

The case was investigated by New Haven Police, the DEA New Haven Task Force, East Haven Police, the FBI and myriad other state and federal authorities. The Task Force includes a number of local police departments including among others, North Haven and Branford.