Hartford Heroin Dealer Sentenced to More Than Two Years in Federal Prison

Nora R. Dannehy, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JOSE VERAS, also known as “Che Luis” and “Shinobi,” 30, of Garden Street, Hartford, was sentenced today by Senior United States District Judge Peter C. Dorsey in New Haven to 30 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for his participation in a narcotics trafficking ring. On November 30, 2009, VERAS pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 100 or more grams of heroin.

This matter stems from “Operation Solid Gold,” a joint law enforcement investigation headed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Northern Connecticut Violent Crimes Task Force. The year-long investigation included the use of court-authorized wiretaps, controlled purchases of cocaine and heroin, and physical surveillance. As a result of the investigation, 55 individuals were charged with various offenses related to the distribution of cocaine and heroin in and around Hartford.

According to court documents and statements made in court, the investigation revealed that VERAS was a significant distributor of heroin who supplied other members of the conspiracy.

This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Northern Connecticut Violent Crimes Task Force, the Statewide Cooperative Crime Control Task Force of the Connecticut State Police and the Hartford Police Department, with assistance from the Statewide Organized Crime Investigative Task Force of the Connecticut State Police, Connecticut State Police, Troop H, and the Connecticut Department of Correction. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Brian P. Leaming and Geoffrey M. Stone.