Meriden Man Sentenced For Role In Drug Ring

MERIDEN, CT — A Meriden man has been sentenced to five years in prison for his role in a central Connecticut cocaine and crack cocaine trafficking ring, according to authorities. Rigoberto Hernandez, also known as “Tito,” 36, was also sentenced this week to five years of supervised release following the prison term, U.S. States Attorney for Connecticut John H. Durham announced in a press release.

The matter stems from a joint investigation headed by the DEA New Haven Task Force that has included the use of court-authorized wiretaps, controlled purchases of crack cocaine, and seizures of cocaine and cash proceeds, according to authorities.

“The investigation revealed that an associate of Hernandez was operating a cocaine and crack cocaine trafficking ring while he was incarcerated in state custody,” according to a press release from the U.S. States Attorney’s Office. “Consensually recorded prison calls established that Hernandez began servicing his associate’s drug customers after his associate was arrested.”

On July 20, 2017, a grand jury in New Haven returned a nine-count indictment charging Hernandez and 10 other individuals with various offenses. Hernandez was arrested on July 26, 2017. On Dec. 19, he pleaded guilty to one count of with conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and 28 grams or more of cocaine base (“crack”).

Hernandez has been detained since his arrest.

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