Tolland Man Sentenced In Cocaine Trafficking Case: Feds

TOLLAND, CT — A 39-year-old Tolland man was given a 29-month prison sentence in a cocaine trafficking and gun possession case Friday morning, a leading prosecutor said.

John Durham, United States attorney for the District of Connecticut, said that Edgard Martinez was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill via teleconference. In addition to the prison term, Martinez will also be subject to three years of supervised release.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in March 2019, police arranged two controlled purchases of cocaine in Bridgeport from Martinez and his associate, Desny Sosa-Hernandez. Case records indicate that, on March 20 of last year, after investigators coordinated the purchase of 300 grams of cocaine from Martinez and Sosa-Hernandez, Martinez drove from his residence in Tolland to pick up Sosa-Hernandez at his residence in Waterbury.

The pair then intended to drive to Bridgeport to consummate the drug transaction, Durham said. When Martinez arrived at Sosa-Hernandez's residence, investigators apprehended Martinez and Sosa-Hernandez and seized a brown paper bag containing 300 grams of cocaine inside Martinez's vehicle, according to case records.

A subsequent search of Martinez's residence revealed a .45-caliber handgun, a "quantity" of cocaine and items used to process and package narcotics. A search of Sosa-Hernandez's residence revealed shoeboxes containing a total of $18,111 in cash, case records show.

Martinez's criminal history includes a felony narcotics conviction for which he received a four-year sentence, Durham sad.

Martinez has been detained since his federal arrest on March 28, 2019. On Sept. 3, 2019, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, cocaine, and one count of possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon.

Records show that Sosa-Hernandez pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, cocaine. He is released on a $100,000 bond while awaiting sentencing.