Mexican National Living in Meriden Sentenced to 4 Years in Federal Prison for Trafficking Heroin

According to court documents and statements made in court, in 2019, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Bridgeport High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force learned that Gomez and Abisael Perez, of the Bronx, New York, were involved in the distribution of multi-kilogram quantities of heroin in the Meriden area.  In November 2019, investigators made a controlled purchase of approximately 50 grams of heroin from Gomez and Perez.

Investigators next arranged to purchase two kilograms of heroin from Gomez and Perez.  On November 17, 2019, investigators observed Gomez, Perez and a third individual, Heriberto Borrero, of Meriden, meeting at a construction site in Berlin.  After the three individuals drove away from the site together, Berlin Police stopped their car.  A subsequent search of a car that Perez had driven to and parked at the construction site revealed two packages containing a total of approximately two kilograms of heroin.

In 2012, Gomez was encountered by immigration authorities in Connecticut and, in March 2014, was removed to Mexico.  Three months later, he illegally reentered the U.S. and was removed to Mexico a second time.  He again illegally returned to the U.S. and was living in the country under an assumed identity at the time of his arrest.

Gomez has been detained since his arrest on November 17, 2019.  On January 22, 2021, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin.

Perez and Borrero also pleaded guilty.  On March 16, 2021, Perez was sentenced to 60 months of imprisonment and, on April 20, 2021, Borrero was sentenced to three years of probation and 100 hours of community service.

This matter was investigated by the DEA’s Bridgeport HIDTA Task Force with the assistance of the Berlin Police Department.  The Task Force includes personnel from the DEA Bridgeport Resident Office, the Connecticut State Police, and the Bridgeport, Norwalk, Stamford, Stratford, Milford and Danbury Police Departments.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria del Pilar Gonzalez through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program.  OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.  Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.