Bridgeport Drug Kingpin Sentenced to Nearly 28 Years in Federal Prison

David B. Fein, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that GEORGE SANCHEZ, 31, formerly of Howard Avenue, Bridgeport, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Janet C. Hall in Bridgeport to 330 months of imprisonment, followed by 10 years of supervised release, for his leadership of a Bridgeport-based narcotics trafficking ring. On September 25, 2009, SANCHEZ pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, and one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base (“crack cocaine”). 

This matter stems from “Operation G-Force,” a joint law enforcement investigation into Bridgeport-area narcotics trafficking headed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Safe Streets Task Force. The year-long investigation, which led to the federal prosecution of 46 individuals, included a seven-month court-authorized wiretap; controlled purchases of cocaine, crack cocaine, and heroin; search and seizure warrants, and physical surveillance.

According to court documents and statements made in court, from approximately January 2002 to February 2009, SANCHEZ headed a large-scale cocaine and crack cocaine distribution ring operating in Bridgeport. Using the U.S. Mail, DHL, and other shipping services, SANCHEZ had, on average, two kilograms of cocaine shipped from Puerto Rico to various residences in Bridgeport each week. The cocaine was wrapped and secreted inside electronic devices such as VCRs, clothing, and other items. Once the packages were received in Bridgeport, SANCHEZ and his associates would process some of the cocaine into crack cocaine, and package the cocaine and crack cocaine for distribution to other narcotics traffickers in the Bridgeport area. Evidence collected during the course of the investigation included two kilograms of cocaine, which were seized in Puerto Rico, destined for an address in Bridgeport used frequently by SANCHEZ and his associates for the delivery of cocaine.

In imposing sentence, Judge Hall found that SANCHEZ was responsible for the distribution of more than 150 kilograms of cocaine, the largest amount of cocaine provided for under the federal Sentencing Guidelines. Judge Hall further found that SANCHEZ was the undisputed leader of the drug conspiracy and had possessed firearms in connection with his drug-trafficking activities.

This matter was investigated by members of the FBI Safe Streets Task Force, which is composed of federal agents and state and local officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, the Connecticut State Police Statewide Narcotics Task Force, and the Bridgeport, Stamford, Stratford, Fairfield, Trumbull, and Norwalk Police Departments. This matter is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Hal Chen and Dave Vatti..