16 Indicted In Alleged Hartford Drug Ring

HARTFORD, CT — A grand jury indicted 16 Hartford residents with offenses related to drug trafficking in the Hartford area.

The DEA Hartford Task Force targeted an operation headed by Julio Oliveras, according to the indictment. The six-month investigation included wiretaps, controlled drug purchases and surveillance.

Oliveras sold drugs to other dealers and also sold small quantities to his own using customers, according to the indictment. To sign up for free Greater Hartford news alerts and more, click here.

“It is alleged that this drug trafficking organization was responsible for the distribution of a significant amount of heroin and fentanyl, as well as other narcotics, in the Hartford region,” said U.S. Attorney John Durham. “As the epidemic of opioid abuse continues to ruin lives across our state, our office is committed to prosecuting heroin and fentanyl traffickers and seeking lengthy terms of incarceration.

The following people were indicted:

• JULIO OLIVERAS, a.k.a. “Cuzzo Jay,” 32, of Hartford and New Britain
• VICTOR PERDOMO, a.k.a. “Domi,” 32, of Hartford
• JEREMY RODRIGUEZ, 21, of Hartford
• ROBERT CAMPBELL, a.k.a. “Ant” and “Anthony,” 26, of Hartford
• PEDRO RIVERA, a.k.a. “Heavy,” 40, of Hartford
• JONATHAN QUINONES, 28, of Hartford
• ALEXIS DeJESUS, 31, of Hartford
• LUIS RODRIGUEZ, 32, of Hartford
• ANGEL GONZALEZ, a.k.a. “Spider” and “June,” 40, of Hartford
• ANGEL ROMAN, 31, of Hartford
• JOSE COTTO, a.k.a. “White Boy,” 27, of Hartford
• ANTONIO JOHNSON, a.k.a. “Unk,” 41, of Hartford
• MIGUEL ORTIZ, 39, of Hartford
• BIANCA VELASQUEZ, 21, of Hartford
• JENNIFER JONES, 39, of Hartford
• MICHAEL SPERO, 34, of Hartford

More from the U.S. Attorney's office:

The indictment charges the 16 defendants with one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute heroin, fentanyl, cocaine and cocaine base (“crack cocaine”). If convicted of conspiracy, based on the type and quantity of narcotics charged, Oliveras, Perdomo and Quinones face a minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life; Jeremy Rodriguez, Rivera, DeJesus, Luis Rodriguez, Johnson, Ortiz, Jones and Spero face a minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years, and Campbell, Gonzalez, Roman, Cotto and Velasquez face a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.

In addition to the conspiracy count, Oliveras, Jeremy Rodriguez, Rivera, Quinones, DeJesus, Gonzalez, Roman, Cotto, Ortiz, Velasquez, Jones and Spero are each charged with one or more counts of possession and/or distribution of various controlled substances.

The indictment also charges Jeremy Rodriguez, Quinones and DeJesus with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. If convicted of this offense, these defendants face a mandatory consecutive five-year term of imprisonment. Oliveras and DeJesus are also charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.

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