New Haven Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl Trafficking Charge: US Attorney

NEW HAVEN, CT — Christian Lopez, 42, of New Haven, pleaded guilty Thursday in U.S. District Court, according to David X. Sullivan, U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut.

Sullivan said based on court documents and statements made in court, in October 2021, the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force learned that Luis Salaman, also known as “Bebe,” was distributing large quantities of narcotics throughout New Haven.

Between November 2021 and March 2022, investigators made multiple controlled purchases of distribution quantities of fentanyl from Salaman and his associates, including Lopez, the prosecutor said. In December 2021, Lopez was involved in two fentanyl transactions totaling approximately 300 grams, Sullivan said.

Lopez, who has been in jail since his arrest on April 10, 2023, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute and distribution of 40 grams or more of fentanyl, Sullivan said. He will be sentenced Aug. 20 and faces a mandatory minimum of five years and a maximum of 40 years in prison.

Lopez has been detained since his arrest on April 10, 2023.

Salaman was convicted after trial and, on March 11, 2026, was sentenced to 14 years of imprisonment.

This investigation was conducted by FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force, including members from the FBI, the Connecticut State Police, the Connecticut Department of Correction, and the New Haven, Milford, East Haven, West Haven, and Wallingford Police Departments.

The investigation was conducted by FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force, including members from the FBI, the State Police, the State Department of Correction, and the New Haven, Milford, East Haven, West Haven, and Wallingford police departments.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David T. Huang.