Woman Gets Prison For Drug Trafficking, Money Laundering: Feds

New Haven CT

15 September, 2021

12:25 PM

Description

NEW HAVEN, CT —A 40-year-old New Haven woman was sentenced to nine months in federal prison and three years of supervised release for her role in a crack and heroin trafficking ring in the city, federal prosecutors announced Wednesday. Keilah Boria pleaded guilty in April of this year to narcotics trafficking and money laundering offenses. According to court documents and statements made in court, federal prosecutor said, in 2019 the DEA New Haven Task Force began an investigation into a New Haven-based drug trafficking network headed by Michael Smith, also known as "Head." The investigation, which included court-authorized wiretaps, found that Smith and others were distributing heroin and crack cocaine throughout the New Haven area, and that Boria maintained bank accounts that Smith used to launder the cash proceeds of his drug trafficking activity, a news release from the U.S. Attorney for Connecticut. Prosecutors said that from 2016 to 2019, Boria deposited more than $200,000 in cash into the bank accounts. Smith spent some of the drug proceeds to pay for rental cars that he used to transport narcotics and to travel to meet his drug customers, the U.S. Attorney said. In December 2019, Smith was intercepted on a wiretap describing having shot at a rival drug dealer. New Haven Police collected 31 shell casings from a location in the Fair Haven neighborhood where the shooting occurred. Smith was arrested on December 23, 2019. Boria was arrested on September 16, 2020. On April 14, 2021, she pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess and distribute heroin and crack and one count of conspiracy to launder monetary instruments. Boria, who is released on a $150,000 bond, is required to report to prison on Nov. 12. Smith, who has been detained since his arrest, pleaded guilty to drug, firearm and money laundering charges on April 15, 2021. He awaits sentencing. This investigation is being conducted by the DEA New Haven Task Force, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, and the New Haven, West Haven, Hamden, East Haven, North Haven, Ansonia, Meriden and Derby police departments.