Nine charged in southeastern Connecticut cocaine and crack distribution case
Federal prosecutors say a Lisbon man supplied cocaine and crack to a network of dealers in southeastern Connecticut, and that investigators seized about 10 kilograms of cocaine and more than $170,000 in cash at a Clinton parking lot.
NEW HAVEN, Conn. — Nine people have been indicted on federal charges of distributing cocaine and crack in southeastern Connecticut, the U.S. attorney's office for the District of Connecticut said Thursday.
A grand jury in New Haven returned a superseding indictment on Oct. 27 charging each defendant with conspiracy to distribute cocaine. The defendants are Michael Smith, 53, of Lisbon; Anthony Gomez, 46, of Norwich; Robert Duran, 46, of Mount Vernon, New York; Deonna White, 48, of Norwich; Rocky Laurent, 48, of New London; Sarah Butler, 43, of Norwich; Heather Roy, 44, of Canterbury; Cordelia Harris, 49, of New London; and Keith Nival, 46, of New London.
Prosecutors said an investigation that used court-approved wiretaps, video surveillance, GPS tracking and undercover drug buys showed that Smith supplied cocaine and crack to Laurent, Butler, Roy, Harris and Nival, who sold smaller amounts to their own customers.
On Oct. 8, investigators watching a parking lot in Clinton saw Smith, White and Duran arrive separately, according to prosecutors. Smith took a shopping bag from White's vehicle and handed it to Duran, who put a box in Smith's vehicle, prosecutors said. The box held about 10 kilograms of cocaine and the bag more than $170,000 in cash, they said. Investigators also found drugs in one of Smith's vehicles and a gun and more than 200 rounds of ammunition in another, prosecutors said.
Smith, White, Duran and Butler were arrested Oct. 8, and Gomez, Roy, Harris and Nival on Oct. 15. Laurent has been in state custody since Sept. 23. Smith, Gomez, Duran and Nival are being held.
Smith is also charged with possessing ammunition as a felon, and Gomez with three counts of distributing crack. The most serious charges carry a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison.
The charges are allegations, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
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