Skip to main content
Press Release

Indictment Charges Hartford Man with Drug and Firearm Offenses

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Connecticut

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that a federal grand jury sitting in Hartford returned a seven-count indictment yesterday charging RAYMOND ORTEGA, 23, of Hartford, with drug and firearm offenses.

The indictment alleges that in July and August 2017, ORTEGA distributed heroin and crack cocaine. The indictment further alleges that on August 2, 2017, ORTEGA possessed distribution quantities of heroin, cocaine, and crack cocaine; a Springfield Armory XDS 4.0 .45 ACP firearm with an obliterated serial number, and a Glock .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol.

The indictment charges ORTEGA with five counts of possessing with intent to distribute and/or distributing heroin, cocaine, and/or cocaine base (“crack cocaine”). Each of these charges carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. The indictment also charges ORTEGA with one count of possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years, and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, an offense that carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of life.

ORTEGA has been detained since his arrest on related state charges on August 2.

U.S. Attorney Daly stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Northern Connecticut Violent Crimes Task Force, which 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 and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives have provided valuable assistance to the investigation.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Marc H. Silverman.

Updated September 8, 2017

Topics
Drug Trafficking
Firearms Offenses
Project Safe Neighborhoods