Man Involved in New Haven Drug Ring Sentenced to 30 Months in Federal Prison

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that MICHAEL MILLER, 38, of New Haven, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer in New Haven to 30 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for distributing heroin and cocaine.

According to court documents and statements made in court, an investigation headed by the Drug Enforcement Administration New Haven Task Force and New Haven Police Department revealed that Malbin Rubiera-Herrera, also known as “Chaca,” acquired heroin and cocaine from sources in Connecticut and New Jersey and distributed the drugs through a network of associates, including Miller, in the greater New Haven area.  Between October and December 2018, investigators made controlled purchases of heroin and cocaine from Rubiera-Herrera.  Subsequent court-authorized wiretaps revealed a widespread narcotics trafficking conspiracy that involved the trafficking of kilogram-quantities of heroin into Connecticut.

In January and February 2019, Miller was intercepted numerous times on recorded calls and text messages ordering distribution quantities of heroin and cocaine from Rubiera-Herrera.  At the time, Miller was on escape status with the State of Connecticut.  On September 10, 2018, Miller failed to return to a halfway house where he was serving a state sentence.  He has been detained since April 5, 2019.

On June 5, 2019, a grand jury returned a superseding indictment charging Miller, Rubiera-Herrera and 12 other individuals with heroin, cocaine and fentanyl trafficking offenses.  On August 19, Miller pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with the intent, to distribute heroin and cocaine.

A search of Rubiera-Herrera’s residence at the time of arrest on April 30, 2019, revealed approximately 300 grams of fentanyl.  He pleaded guilty on June 20.

This matter is being investigated by the DEA New Haven Task Force and the New Haven Police Department, with the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Marshals Service, Connecticut State Police, Connecticut Department of Correction, East Haven Police Department, Easton Police Department, Orange Police Department, and the Cape May County (N.J.) Prosecutor’s Office, Gangs, Guns and Narcotics Task Force.

The DEA New Haven Task Force includes participants from the U.S. Marshals Service, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, and the New Haven, Hamden, West Haven, North Haven, Branford, Ansonia, Meriden, Derby, Middletown, Naugatuck and Waterbury Police Departments.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jocelyn Courtney Kaoutzanis and S. Dave Vatti.