Man Involved in Wild Chase Sentenced for Heroin Activity

HARTFORD, CT — A man involved in a wild chase in 2016 has been given a federal sentence for the heroin activity that triggered the pursuit in the first place.

John Durham, United States attorney for the District of Connecticut, said that William Marrero-Benitez, 25, of Hartford, was sentenced Thursday by Senior U.S. District Judge Alfred V. Covello to 45 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for distributing heroin and for violating the conditions of his supervised release from a prior federal conviction.

According to case records, on Dec. 14, 2016, Hartford police were conducting a heroin trafficking investigation and attempted to stop a vehicle driven by Marrero-Benitez in the area of New Britain Avenue and Broad Street.

He accelerated from the scene at a high rate of speed, hit the front of a police vehicle, swerved through traffic, ran several red lights and stop signs, and nearly hit at least two other vehicles head-on, according to case records.

Officers chased Marrero-Benitez onto I-84 eastbound and into East Hartford, where he drove off the road and down an embankment, according to case records. He then fled the vehicle and ran into the woods, but was chased down by an officer, according to to case records.

During an ensuing struggle, the officer was kicked in the head, according to case records.

At the time of his arrest, Marrero-Benitez had on him 138 wax folds containing heroin, according to case records.

In May 2015, Marrero-Benitez, who was on state probation at the time, illegally possessed and sold a rifle to an individual "working with law enforcement," Durham said. He subsequently pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon and, on July 7, 2016, was sentenced to 18 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. He was released from federal prison in October 2016.

On March 29, 2018, Marrero-Benitez pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute heroin.

Judge Covello sentenced Marrero-Benitez to 27 months in prison on the heroin offense, and a consecutive 18-month terms for violating the conditions of his federal supervised release.

Marrero-Benitez has been detained since Dec. 14, 2016.

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