The CT Drug Enforcement Agency for New England and the US Attorney for Connecticut announced on Thursday, Oct. 2 the arrests of Omar Andrade, 29, of Norwalk; and Joel A Estrella-Disla, 24, and Wilmer Antonio Gomez-Rodriguez, 28, both of New York City were charged with heroin trafficking.
As alleged in the criminal complaint, this matter stems from an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Norwalk Police Department into suspected cocaine and heroin distribution by Andrade.
In September 2014, Andrade agreed to provide one kilogram of heroin to a DEA Task Force officer acting in an undercover capacity. Andrade, Estrella and Gomez were arrested on September 30 after they delivered approximately one kilogram of heroin to a pre-arranged location in Norwalk.
The three defendants appeared yesterday before U.S. Magistrate Judge William I. Garfinkel in Bridgeport and were ordered detained.
Each defendant is charged with one count conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, one kilogram or more of heroin, an offense that carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years, a maximum term of imprisonment of life, and a fine of up to $10 million.
U.S. Attorney Daly stressed that a criminal complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are entitled to a fair trial at which it is the Government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
This matter is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Bridgeport High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force and the Norwalk Police Department. The Task Force includes personnel from the Norwalk, Stamford, Stratford and Milford Police Departments, and the Connecticut State Police. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney H. Gordon Hall.