New Haven Car Dealer Sentenced to Ten Years in Federal Prison for Selling Cocaine and Crack

Nora R. Dannehy, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ROBERTO RODRIGUEZ, also known as “Tito,” 50, of New Haven, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to 120 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for selling cocaine and crack cocaine.  On July 29, 2009, RODRIGUEZ pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine, and one count of distribution of 50 grams or more of cocaine base (“crack cocaine”).

This matter stems from an Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (“OCDETF”) investigation dubbed “Operation Brass Deal,” which was spearheaded by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Safe Streets Task Force in New Haven.  As a result of the investigation, a total of 16 individuals have been charged with various narcotics offenses related to the large-scale distribution of cocaine, crack cocaine, marijuana and oxycodone in New Haven, East Haven, Branford, West Haven and other towns in New Haven County.  During the investigation, law enforcement officers seized more than $75,000 in cash, more than one kilogram of cocaine and approximately 750 grams of crack cocaine.

According to court documents and statements made in court, between November 2008 and May 2009, RODRIGUEZ, the owner of Buy Rite Auto Sales on Ella Grasso Boulevard in New Haven, was involved in the purchase and distribution of more than 1.5 kilograms of cocaine and 373 grams of crack cocaine.

In 1988, RODRIGUEZ was convicted of federal cocaine distribution charges, and received a sentence of four years of imprisonment.

This matter was investigated by the FBI New Haven Safe Streets Task Force, which is composed of representatives of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the New Haven Police Department, the Ansonia Police Department, the Milford Police Department, the East Haven Police Department, the Connecticut State Police and the Connecticut Department of Correction.  This matter is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Robert M. Spector and Christopher M. Mattei.