Hartford Woman Sentenced For Fentanyl Trafficking: Feds

HARTFORD, CT — A Hartford woman has been sentenced to five years in prison for dealing fentanyl, according to prosecutors. Janicette Reyes, 43, will also serve five years of supervised release.

In 2018, the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force began investigating Ricardo Reyes, aka “Rick the Ruler,” a member of the Los Solidos street gang who was dealing fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, and crack in the area of Park Street and Hungerford Street in Hartford.

During the investigation, law enforcement conducted multiple controlled purchases of drugs from Ricardo Reyes. Court-authorized wiretaps confirmed he was dealing narcotics to numerous customers, and identified people who supplied drugs to him, as well as associates who sold drugs for him.

Law enforcement also intercepted communications revealing that Ricardo Reyes was acquiring and trafficking firearms.

Janicette Reyes, Ricardo Reyes’ sister, used a Rowe Avenue home she shared with Johnny Ortega, aka “Clatcho,” to store, process, and package fentanyl for distribution, and she delivered fentanyl to customers at Ricardo Reyes’ direction, according to prosecutors.

Ricardo Reyes was arrested April 22, 2019, on state charges after he used a straw purchaser to buy two handguns from a licensed gun dealer in Newington. Investigators conducted a traffic stop of Ricardo Reyes’ vehicle in New Britain and seized the two guns.

A search of the vehicle also revealed approximately 450 bags of suspected heroin/fentanyl, more than one pound of marijuana, and $1,160 in cash. While Ricardo Reyes was detained in state custody, Janicette Reyes continued to service Ricardo Reyes’ drug customers, according to prosecutors.

Janicette Reyes was arrested June 17, 2019. A court-authorized search of her Rowe Avenue home revealed approximately 3,450 dose-bags of fentanyl, drug paraphernalia, a loaded Glock .40 caliber pistol, and ammunition.

A grand jury in Hartford returned a 32-count indictment June 27, 2019, charging Ricardo Reyes, Janicette Reyes, Ortega, and 12 associates with various drug trafficking and gun possession offenses. Janicette Reyes pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl in October.

She was released on a $200,000 bond and is required to report to prison on June 24, 2022.

Ricardo Reyes and Ortega pleaded guilty to related charges. Ricardo Reyes was sentenced in February 2021 to 18 years in prison. Ortega was sentenced to 60 months of imprisonment in December.