HARTFORD–The federal government has charged six Connecticut residents after a string of fatal heroin overdoses. It is all part of a statewide initiative to crack down on drug dealers whose purchasers die.
“Connecticut, just like many other states in this nation, is suffering from this terrible epidemic. These tragic deaths have occurred in every corner of our state from the smallest towns to the largest cities. No one has been spared,” said U.S. Attorney Deirdre Daly when the initiative was announced earlier in April.
Here are the details of the fatal overdose deaths:
- February 1: A person died from an overdose in Vernon.
- March 22: A person died from an overdose in Granby.
- April 9: Norwich Police found an 18-year-old man dead from a heroin overdose. The drugs he had taken were laced with fentanyl.
- April 15: A 21-year-old woman was found unresponsive after overdosing on heroin in her Bridgeport apartment, and she later was taken off life support and died at Bridgeport Hospital.
- April 12: Groton Police responded to reports that a 25-year-old man was unresponsive in a car on Route 12. He was taken to the hospital and died. It was determined that he had used heroin and/or fentanyl before his death.
Here is the information on who was arrested by the federal government, and what led to the arrests:
- Jonathan Fisher, 35, of Norwich, was arrested by Norwich Police on April 12 after the April 9 overdose from fentanyl-laced heroin. He was arrested by federal officials on April 20 and remains detained. Two others–Joseph Hirschfeld, 19, and Raymond Belardo, 37–were also arrested that day in relation to the sale of fentanyl-laced heroin. A month before the overdose, Fisher had been arrested by Norwich Police after he was found with heroin that had a stamp on it that was the same as the heroin found next to the victim.
- Fisher pleaded guilty in federal court on May 2 to once count of possession with the intent to distribute, and one count of distribution of heroin. He faced 20 years in prison, but was sentenced to 2.5 years.
- Jorge Morales, also known as “Capone,” 29, of Shelton, was also detained based on a federal complaint on April 20. His arrest is in connection to the 21-year-old woman who died in Bridgeport. Police found numerous calls and texts between Morales and the victim in the days leading up to the woman’s death. They also made an undercover purchase of heroin with the same stamp on it as that found with the victim when she died.
- Timothy Paprocki, 33, of Ledyard, was arrested in connection to the Groton death of a 25-year-old man. The victim arranged to buy heroin from Paprocki, who then purchased it from Rudy Hernandez to provide to the victim. He has been detained since April 20. Police found text messages and calls showing that the victim wanted to buy the drugs from Paprocki. Paprocki pleaded guilty in December 2015.
- Rudy Hernandez, 43, of New London, was also arrested in connection to the Groton death of a 25-year-old man. Hernandez sold heroin to Paprocki after the victim arranged to buy drugs from Paprocki. Paprocki then sold the drugs to the victim. He has been detained since April 20. Hernandez had heroin and cocaine in his home when police searched him based on the victim’s death.
- Daniel Gamero, 23, of Hartford, was arrested in connection to the deaths in Vernon and Granby. Hartford Police investigated the sale of heroin with a specific stamp on it from February through April, and conducted four undercover purchases from Gamero and Charlie Tacuri. Gamero plead guilty on December 16 to heroin distribution and firearm possession offenses.
- Charlie Tacuri, 19, of Hartford, was also arrested in connection to the deaths in Vernon and Granby. Hartford Police investigated the sale of heroin with a specific stamp on it from February through April, and conducted four undercover purchases from Tacuri and Gamero. On December 8, 2016, Tacuri, 19, formerly of Hartford, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute heroin. He is scheduled to be sentenced on March 6, 2017.
