BRIDGEPORT, Conn. — A citizen of the Dominican Republic who used to live in Hartford was sentenced to five years in prison on Thursday in Bridgeport for his role in a narcotic trafficking organization, according to a release from the U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut.
Johnattan Fernandez-Lopez, 37, was involved in a criminal organization that distributed oxycodone pills, counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl and other drugs in and around Hartford, prosecutors said.
Prosecutors added that the case stems from a joint investigation by the DEA Tactical Diversion Squad and the FBI Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force, which investigated individuals who were distributing narcotics from neighborhood grocery stores in Hartford and New Britain.
Between January 2020 and March 2021, law enforcement made multiple controlled purchases of illegal pills at the Washington Market, which had been located at 453 Washington St. in Hartford; JZ Tobacco, located at 25 New Britain Avenue in Hartford; and Prestige Market, located at 23 New Britain Avenue in Hartford, according to prosecutors.
Fernandez-Lopez was the primary seller of pills during the evening hours at JZ Tobacco and owned a firearm in connection with the offense, prosecutors said.
According to prosecutors, investigators stopped a vehicle registered to Ray Urena, Fernandez-Lopez’s co-defendant, on Dec. 20, 2020, and found around 4,000 illegal pills and $51,000 in cash in a hidden “trap” beneath the front passenger seat of the car. Urena and others were arrested on May 18, 2021.
Prosecutors said law enforcement searched an apartment on Colonial Street in Hartford that was used by the criminal organization, as well as two vehicles parked outside the stash house, on that date.
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They discovered about two kilograms of fentanyl, around 170 grams of heroin, more than 5,000 real and counterfeit oxycodone pills, approximately 2,000 Xanax pills, about one kilogram of cocaine, around 100 grams of crack, items used to process and package narcotics, two handguns and ammunition. At Urena’s residence in Waterbury, approximately $54,000 was found, prosecutors said.
Fernandez-Lopez was arrested on Nov. 10, 2021, and has been detained since; he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, 40 grams or more of fentanyl on March 28. Prosecutors said Fernandez-Lopez faces immigration proceedings when he completes his prison term. Urena pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentencing.
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Dalton Zbierski is a digital content producer and writer at FOX61 News. He can be reached at dzbierski@FOX61.com.
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