Thaindian News

HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT (BNO NEWS) – A New York cocaine trafficker was sentenced in Connecticut to seven years in federal prison, U.S. Attorney Nora R. Dannehy announced Friday.

Jose Rodriguez, also known as “Felo”, of Bronx, New York pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, five kilograms or more of cocaine on November 12, 2009, and he was sentenced to 87 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release.

After a 12-month FBI and Connecticut State Police investigation named “Operation Quiet Corner,” the drug trafficking organization operating primarily in northeastern Connecticut was uncovered successfully.

According to investigations, Jose Rodriguez and Johanna Alverio drove from New York to deliver two kilograms of cocaine to Kenneth Gould, Jr. of Putnam and Carlos Rodriguez of Hartford in February 2008 to distribute the drugs to numerous customers in northeastern Connecticut, in the Hartford area, and in other New England states.

Based on intercepted communications, Rodriguez and Alverio agreed to deliver five kilograms of cocaine to Gould for a price of $26,500 per kilogram. Law enforcement investigators set up surveillance, stopping the suspects for a motor vehicle violation, as they were riding with their two daughters in the back of the car.

A narcotics-sniffing dog alerted to the presence of drugs, and the car was towed to the Connecticut State Police Troop E barracks for further inspection since investigators believed that the car contained a hidden compartment to hide narcotics.

Jose Rodriguez, Alverio, Gould, Carlos Rodriguez, and 18 other individuals were charged with various offenses related to the distribution of cocaine, crack cocaine and marijuana.

Carlos Rodriguez was sentenced to 188 months of imprisonment. Alverio and Gould await sentencing as the three had previously pleaded guilty.