New Haven Man Sentenced to 28 Months in Federal Prison for Selling Cocaine

David B. Fein, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ANGELO HERNANDEZ, 45, of New Haven, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to 28 months of imprisonment, followed by six years of supervised release, for selling cocaine.

This matter stems from an Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force investigation dubbed “Operation Brass Deal,” which was spearheaded by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Safe Streets Task Force in New Haven. As a result of the investigation, a total of 16 individuals have been charged with various narcotics offenses related to the large-scale distribution of cocaine, crack cocaine, marijuana and oxycodone in New Haven, East Haven, Branford, West Haven and other towns in New Haven County.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in March 2009, HERNANDEZ purchased between 300 and 400 grams of cocaine from Roberto “Tito“ Rodriguez, the former owner of Buy Rite Auto Sales on Ella Grasso Boulevard in New Haven, and redistributed the cocaine to others.

On July 31, 2009, HERNANDEZ pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine. While on pretrial release in this case, HERNANDEZ violated the conditions of his release by engaging in additional cocaine trafficking and, in December 2010, was detained as a result of that conduct.

Roberto “Tito“ Rodriguez pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base (“crack”), and one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine. On November 3, 2009, he was sentenced to 120 months of imprisonment.

This matter was investigated by the FBI New Haven Safe Streets Task Force, which is composed of representatives of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the New Haven Police Department, the Ansonia Police Department, the Milford Police Department, the East Haven Police Department, the Connecticut State Police and the Connecticut Department of Correction. This matter is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Robert M. Spector and Christopher M. Mattei.