Hartford Man Sentenced to 46 Months in Federal Prison for Distributing Heroin

David B. Fein, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that IGNACIO MEJIA, also known as “June” and “Gordo,” 34, of Newton Street, Hartford, was sentenced today by Senior United States District Judge Warren W. Eginton in Bridgeport to 46 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for his participation in a Hartford-area narcotics trafficking ring. On March 25, 2010, MEJIA pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin.

This matter stems from “Operation Solid Gold,” a joint law enforcement investigation headed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Northern Connecticut Violent Crimes Task Force. The year-long investigation included the use of court-authorized wiretaps, controlled purchases of cocaine and heroin, and physical surveillance. As a result of the investigation, 55 individuals were charged with various offenses related to the distribution of cocaine and heroin in and around Hartford.

According to court documents and statements made in court, MEJIA was intercepted over a wiretap negotiating the purchase of distribution quantities of heroin from another member of the conspiracy. During the course of the investigation, MEJIA conspired to distribute more than 200 grams of heroin.

MEJIA has been detained since his arrest on February 26, 2009.

This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Northern Connecticut Violent Crimes Task Force, the Statewide Cooperative Crime Control Task Force of the Connecticut State Police and the Hartford Police Department, with assistance from the Statewide Organized Crime Investigative Task Force of the Connecticut State Police, Connecticut State Police, Troop H, and the Connecticut Department of Correction. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Brian P. Leaming and Geoffrey M. Stone.