Hamden Man Sentenced For Distributing Heroin, Crack: Feds

Hamden CT

11 February, 2022

7:46 PM

Description

HAMDEN, CT — A Hamden man has been sentenced to five years in federal prison for distributing heroin and crack, according to officials. Christopher Rodriguez, also known as "Rico," 33, was also sentenced to four years of supervised release following the prison term, U.S. Attorney for Connecticut Leonard C. Boyle announced. Members of the FBI's Bridgeport Safe Streets Task Force and Bridgeport Police Department began investigating individuals who were distributing narcotics in and around Bridgeport in the summer of 2017, according to officials. "The investigation has included the use of court-authorized wiretaps, controlled purchases of narcotics, physical and video surveillance, and the execution of multiple search and seizure warrants," officials wrote in a news release. "The investigation revealed that Rodriguez, Antonio Small, Evan Sheffield, Louis McDowell, Anthony Small and others were distributing large quantities of heroin, fentanyl and crack cocaine in the Bridgeport area." Rodriguez pleaded guilty in January 2020 to one count of conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, 100 grams or more of heroin and a quantity of cocaine base ("crack"). Antonio Small, Sheffield, McDowell, and Anthony Small have pleaded guilty. Sheffield was sentenced in October 2020 to 97 months of imprisonment. Antonio Small, McDowell and Anthony Small await sentencing, according to officials. The matter is being investigated by the FBI's Bridgeport Safe Streets Task Force and the Bridgeport Police Department, as well as the DEA, Connecticut State Police, and the Stratford, Norwalk, Seymour and Trumbull Police Departments.