14 arrested in Waterbury-area drug trafficking probe

Cash, jewelry and about 40 pounds of narcotics seized with feds’ help

Federal authorities and Waterbury police seized about 40 pounds of narcotics, along with jewelry and bundles of cash, and arrested 14 people during an investigation into drug trafficking in the area, officials said Thursday.

The investigation focused on the distribution of fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, crack cocaine and oxycodone in and around the city. The two main targets were Javier “The Crazy One” Gonzalez, 50, and Jose “Colorado” Duprey, 51, both of Waterbury, and their associates, authorities said.

Investigators employed court-authorized wiretaps of multiple phones, physical surveillance, controlled drug buys and motor vehicle stops that resulted in the seizure of drugs and cash proceeds, according to a news release.

The arrests and seizures saved lives, U.S. Attorney Vanessa Roberts Avery said.

“As too many Connecticut residents continue to lose their battle with drug addiction and too many families and communities are impacted by the resulting trauma that addiction causes,” Avery said, “we in the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners are steadfast in our commitment to stop the flow of these deadly drugs into and around our state, and we will prosecute those involved to the full extent of federal law.”

“Fentanyl, heroin and cocaine are causing great damage to our communities, and (the federal Drug Enforcement Administration’s) top priority is to aggressively pursue anyone who distributes this poison in order to profit and destroy lives,” said Brian D. Boyle, the DEA special agent in charge .

In connection with the arrests Wednesday, investigators executed 11 search warrants and seized narcotics, about $290,000 in cash and jewelry valued at $400,000.

A major part of that haul came after a search of a Straits Turnpike business in Middlebury that officials said Duprey used as a stash site. Investigators found about 12 kilograms of a mixture containing suspected fentanyl, one kilogram of suspected heroin, one kilogram of suspected black tar heroin and $40,000 in cash, officials said.

A search of the Waterbury home of Francisco Gonzalez, 51, revealed about two kilograms of a mix of suspected cocaine and fentanyl, two kilograms of suspected heroin and $200,000 in cash, officials said. At Javier Gonzalez’s Enoch Street home, investigators found about one kilogram of marijuana, $30,000 in cash and the jewelry cache, which investigators suspect was bought with drug proceeds, officials said. Quantities of cocaine and heroin and about $20,000 in cash were seized from other locations, officials said.

Others arrested were Christopher Cammilletti, 30, of Southington; John Steferak, 43, of Milford; Wanda Lora, 47, of Waterbury; Robert “Spanky” Amatruda, 38, of Bristol; Victor “Mexico” Duran-barrera, 41, of Bridgeport; Garry Gebeau, 56, of Ansonia; Thomas Santos, 33, of Waterbury; Jose Ramos, 40, of Waterbury; Armando Varela-plaza, 40, of New York City; Bianca Rodriguez-cancel, 36, of New York City; and Michele Cruz, 36, of Waterbury.

Each defendant was charged with conspiracy to distribute narcotics and possess narcotics with intent to distribute, which carries a maximum term of 20 years in prison. Certain defendants face stronger penalties, including mandatory minimum terms of imprisonment, based on the type and quantity of illegal drugs attributable to them. Javier and brother Francisco Gonzalez also are charged with bulk cash smuggling, which carries a maximum term of five years in prison.

“We are thankful that our ongoing work with the DEA and the U.S. Attorney’s Office continues to thwart drug trafficking in Waterbury and remove those involved from our community,” Waterbury Police Chief Fernando C. Spagnolo said. “We look forward to continuing this important work with our federal partners.”