Norwalk Man Sentenced For Trafficking Cocaine: U.S. Attorney

NORWALK, CT — A Norwalk man was sentenced Thursday to 41 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, on charges of trafficking cocaine and illegally possessing firearms. The accused was also ordered to pay a $5,000 fine.

According to United States Attorney John H. Durham, police said they observed 34-year-old Stephen Mazzo of Norwalk exit a local hotel on May 31, 2017, carrying a plastic shopping bag he had not been carrying when he entered the hotel. The accused’s vehicle was stopped a short time later on Route 15 south in Stamford.

Police said a search of the vehicle and the plastic shopping bag revealed more than 400 grams of cocaine. The accused was arrested on state charges at that time, police said.

Investigators later returned to the hotel and determined the accused had met with a man who had been residing in a hotel room, where officers found items used to package drugs for distribution. Police said a subsequent search of the man's vehicle revealed approximately 959 grams of cocaine, separated in multiple packages for distribution, and $34,525 in cash.

Police said officers searched Mazzo's residence and located a semi-automatic pistol, a multi-caliber rifle, a 12-gauge shotgun and shotgun shells. The accused was prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition as a result of his previous state convictions for felony drug offenses, police said.

The accused pleaded guilty on Feb. 15 to one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and one count of possession of firearms and ammunition by a convicted felon, court officials said. He was ordered to report to prison on June 21.

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