Hartford Man Sentenced to More Than 7 Years in Federal Prison for Drug and Gun Offenses

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that ELVIN GONZALEZ, also known as Peewee,” 45, of Hartford, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Janet C. Hall in New Haven to 87 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release, for narcotics and firearm offenses.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in June 2021, the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force and Hartford Police Department made controlled purchases of distribution quantities of fentanyl and crack cocaine from Gonzalez and his associate, Jose Rivera, also known as “Chepo.”

Gonzalez and Rivera were arrested on June 25, 2021.  On that date, a search of Gonzalez’s Wethersfield Avenue residence revealed approximately 4,000 dose bags of fentanyl, approximately 139 grams of crack, approximately 18 grams of cocaine, two loaded handguns, a loaded rifle, and additional rounds of ammunition.  The rifle and one of the handguns had been reported stolen.  A search of Rivera’s East Hartford revealed approximately 162 grams of loose fentanyl, 300 dose bags of fentanyl, items used to process and package narcotics for street sale, a handgun and a loaded magazine, and more than $19,000 in cash.

Gonzalez’s lengthy criminal history includes convictions in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont for narcotics, robbery and other offenses.  It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce.

On November 10, 2021, Gonzalez pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, and one count of possession of a firearm by a felon.  Gonzalez, who is released on bond, is required to report to prison on June 7.

Rivera, 43, pleaded guilty to the same offenses on January 5, 2023, and is detained while awaiting sentencing.

The FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force includes members of the Hartford Police Department, East Hartford Police Department, New Britain Police Department, West Hartford Police Department, Connecticut State Police and Connecticut Department of Correction.  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian P. Leaming.

This prosecution is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  In May 2021, the Justice Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: Fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.