West Hartford Man Part of Pair Indicted in Heroin Distribution Case

WETHERSFIELD, WEST HARTFORD, CT — Two area residents have been implicated in a heroin case, a leasing prosecutor said.

Deirdre Daly, United States attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced Wednesday that a federal grand jury in New Haven returned an indictment on Tuesday charging 31-year-old Jose Carrasquillo of Wethersfield, who goes by the street name of “Pete,” and Dwayne Thompson, 32, of West Hartford, with heroin trafficking offenses.

The indictment also charges Thompson with illegally possessing a firearm, Daly said.

Court documents allege that, in July 2017, the federal Drug Enforcement Administration’s Hartford Task Force received information that Carrasquillo was interested in acquiring heroin to distribute.

In August, he agreed to purchase 3 kilograms of heroin from an undercover law enforcement officer posing as a heroin supplier, according to court documents.

On Aug. 22, Carrasquillo and Thompson, arriving in separate vehicles, met in South Windsor with an individual working with law enforcement to complete the transaction, Daly said.

Thompson was arrested on that date after he was found in possession of a firearm and $126,200 in cash, Daly said.

Carrasquillo fled the scene at a high rate of speed and was initially able to elude capture, surrendered to law enforcement officials on Aug. 24, Daly said.

The indictment charges both with one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 1 kilogram or more of heroin, and one count of attempt to possess with intent to distribute 1 kilogram or more of heroin.

Both charges carry a maximum term of imprisonment of life.

The indictment also charges Thompson with one count of carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime, and offense that carries a mandatory consecutive term of imprisonment of at least five years.

The indictment also seeks the forfeiture of the cash and firearm seized at the time of Thompson’s arrest.

Carrasquillo and Thompson have been released on bonds in the amounts of $150,000 and $100,000, respectively, Daly said.

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