NORWICH MAN TO SERVE 731 DAYS FOR FENTANYL POSSESSION

A 53-year-old Norwich man who was arrested on narcotics charges in July 2018 after police found 51 bags of fentanyl in his apartment pleaded guilty Monday in New London Superior Court and was sentenced to 731 days in prison.

Ernesto Rodriguez, formerly of 172 Norwich Ave., No. 3, has been held in lieu of $35,500 since city police, acting on numerous complaints from neighborhood residents of suspicious activity, obtained a search and seizure warrant and seized 51 baggies of fentanyl and 32 Suboxone strips.

Along with the drugs and cash, police said they seized $2,000, three cellphones, a digital scale, materials for packing narcotics and a 2015 Ford Explorer.

Also arrested were Sara Canwell, of the same address, and Michael Garcia of Griswold. Canwell’s court record is sealed, which is usually an indication that she was granted entry into a pretrial diversionary program.

Garcia’s case is pending in Superior Court in Norwich.

Judge Hillary B. Strackbein imposed Rodriguez’s sentence, 10 years in prison, suspended after 731 days, followed by three years probation, for possession of fentanyl with intent to sell. The plea deal Rodriguez accepted had been worked out between prosecutor Paul J. Narducci and defense attorney Peter D. Catania.

“You know how bad fentanyl is,” Strackbein said. “It’s in the news every day. It’s really just poison.”

Rodriguez apologized, and Catania added that his client had relapsed after being clean from drugs for four years.

“He knows this is poison,” Catania said. “Fueling his own addiction was his goal.”