Hartford Crack Dealer Sentenced to 21 Months in Federal Prison

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that CHRISTOPHER ROSA, 33, of Hartford, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in Bridgeport to 21 months of imprisonment, followed by one year of supervised release, for using a telephone to facilitate the distribution of crack cocaine.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in September 2014, the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Violent Crimes Task Force and Hartford Police Department initiated an investigation into narcotics distribution, firearms trafficking and acts of violence carried out by members and associates Los Solidos in Hartford’s South End. The investigation, which included the use of court-authorized wiretaps and controlled purchases of heroin, crack cocaine and firearms, resulted in federal charges against approximately 30 individuals.

During the investigation, ROSA contacted his crack cocaine supplier, Eduardo Zayas, more than 100 times to obtain crack for subsequent redistribution.

On May 15, 2015, Hartford Police arrested Zayas after he traveled to a parking lot to meet his own drug supplier who was in possession of approximately 320 grams of crack. A subsequent search of an apartment on New Britain Avenue in Hartford that was connected to Zayas revealed a .25 caliber handgun, a magazine with four live .25 caliber rounds, approximately 52 grams of crack, items used to process and package narcotics, and $4,120 in cash.

On February 3, 2016, ROSA pleaded guilty to one count of use of a telephone in the commission of a drug trafficking felony.

ROSA’s criminal history includes multiple felony drug convictions and a firearms conviction.

Zayas pleaded guilty and, on January 27, 2017, was sentenced to 65 months of imprisonment.

The FBI Task Force includes members of the Hartford Police Department, East Hartford Police Department, Connecticut State Police and Connecticut Department of Correction. The Hartford Police Department’s Vice and Narcotics Division, Major Crimes Unit, Shooting Task Force and South Conditions Unit have provided valuable assistance to the investigation, and the U.S. Marshals Service and Capitol Region Emergency Response Team (CREST) assisted with the arrests.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Gustafson.

This prosecution stems from Project Longevity, a comprehensive initiative to reduce gun violence in Connecticut’s major cities. Through Project Longevity, community members and law enforcement directly engage with members of groups that are prone to commit violence. A critical component of the Project Longevity strategy is the “call-in,” a face-to-face meeting where Project Longevity partners engage group members and deliver a community message against violence, a law enforcement message about the consequences of further violence and an offer of help for those who want it.

Members of Los Solidos attended call-ins that were held in April 2014 and August 2014.