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Press Release

Superseding Indictment Charges 5 New Haven Men with Fentanyl Trafficking Offenses

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

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Robert Fuller, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, today announced that a federal grand jury in New Haven has returned a superseding indictment charging LUIS SALAMAN, a.k.a. “Bebe,” 41; CHRISTIAN LOPEZ, a.k.a. “Face,” 38; MELVIN SANTIAGO, a.k.a. “Pina,” 34; JESUS SEGUINOT, a.k.a. “Chuchi,” 33; and KELLY QUINONES-ADORNO, 27, all of New Haven, with fentanyl trafficking offenses.

The indictment, which was returned on April 6, 2023, was unsealed on April 10 when Lopez, Santiago, Seguinot, and Quinones-Adorno were arrested.  On that date, these four defendants appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Maria E. Garcia in New Haven and were ordered detained pending the submission of bond proposals.  Salaman has been detained since his arrest on the original indictment on April 5, 2022.

As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, in October 2021, the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force learned that Salaman was distributing large quantities of narcotics throughout New Haven.  The investigation revealed that Salaman worked with Lopez, Santiago, Seguinot, and Quinones-Adorno to distribute fentanyl.  Between November 2021 and March 2022, investigators made multiple controlled purchases of distribution quantities of heroin/fentanyl from these individuals.

The indictment charges Salaman with conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.  If convicted of this offense, he faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life.  The indictment charges Lopez, Santiago, Seguinot, and Quinones-Adorno with conspiracy to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl.  If convicted of this offense, each faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years.

The indictment also charges each defendant with one or more counts of possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, 40 grams or more of fentanyl, an offense that carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years.

In addition, the indictment alleges that Salaman is eligible for enhanced penalties because of a prior conviction for a serious violent felony, which potentially increases his mandatory minimum prison sentence to 15 years.

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

This investigation is being conducted by FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force, which includes members from the FBI, the Connecticut State Police, the Connecticut Department of Correction, and the New Haven, Milford, East Haven, West Haven, and Wallingford Police Departments.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Conor M. Reardon and Robert S. Ruff.

Updated April 12, 2023

Topics
Opioids
Drug Trafficking