Drug Trafficking Arrests Thursday In New Rochelle, Connecticut

NEW ROCHELLE, NY — Seven members of a New Rochelle drug trafficking ring were charged with narcotics conspiracy Thursday after an early morning raid at a market in New Rochelle. Additionally, three members of a Bridgeport, Connecticut, drug trafficking gang were charged.

Geoffrey S. Berman, U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced the results of a coordinated operation in which federal, state and local law enforcement officers arrested seven of the defendants in Westchester and three in Fairfield County in Connecticut.

The New Rochelle defendants were charged in the Southern District of New York with conspiracy to distribute 5 kilograms and more of cocaine and 50 grams and more of methamphetamine in and around New Rochelle, since at least April 2018.

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Connecticut charged their three defendants with narcotics offenses including conspiracy to distribute 500 grams and more of cocaine.

"Our office is committed to ridding New York neighborhoods of highly addictive and extremely dangerous drugs," Berman said. "And we will continue to help coordinate our efforts with other U.S. Attorney's Offices and local and federal law enforcement agencies."

As alleged in the indictment unsealed Thursday, from April up to October, Ulysses Lopez, Valentino Lopez and Christian Lopez conspired to distribute 5 kilograms and more of powder cocaine and 50 grams and more of methamphetamine in New Rochelle.

Felipe Barajas, Jose Oceguera, Felipe Cortes and Saturnino Oliver Farias conspired to distribute 5 kilograms and more of powder cocaine in New Rochelle, authorities said.

In Connecticut, from March 2018 through June 26, Rafael Lopez-Macias, Jaime Lopez and Juan Carlos Figueroa conspired to distribute 500 grams or more of powder cocaine, according to the indictment. In addition, on June 26, Lopez-Macias possessed with intent to distribute 500 grams and more of methamphetamine, and on June 7, Jaime Lopez possessed with intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine, police said.

The men charged in White Plains federal court each face a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, and a mandatory minimum term of 10 years in prison.

Those charged in New Haven federal court each face a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison and a mandatory minimum term of five years in prison.

The arrests in New Rochelle are related to the an FBI raid on the Supermercado Mexico grocery store at 100 Union Ave. around 5 a.m. Thursday, the Journal News said.

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