Five from city indicted on drug charges

NEW HAVEN » Federal authorities are seeking a Middletown man who is allegedly connected to a cocaine and crack distribution ring in central Connecticut.

The U.S. Attorney’s office announced indictments Friday against 17 individuals allegedly involved in the scheme. All those charged in the indictment are in federal or state custody, except for Kasean White, 29, of Middletown, who is being sought.

The defendants were allegedly led by Westley Northrup, formerly of Meriden, who was operating the scheme while he was in state custody. Part of the scheme involved a Suffield man, Orlando

Quiros, getting deliveries of cocaine from Puerto Rico through the U.S. Mail, the release from U.S. Attorney Deirdre Daly said.

Steven Riccelli, 42, of Unionville, a U.S. Postal Service employee, allegedly helped accept delivery of the packages from Puerto Rico. Federal law enforcement agents seized three firearms, approximately $100,000 in cash, several pounds of marijuana, and about seven kilograms of cocaine that is allegedly connected to the defendants, the release said.

“The seizure of seven kilograms of cocaine in this case makes clear that these defendants were significant drug traffickers with multiple sources in Connecticut, as alleged in the indictments,” Daly said. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to working closely with the DEA, U.S. Postal Inspection Service and our state and local law enforcement partners to shut down these drug pipelines and prosecute those responsible.”

The U.S. Postal Service is also assisting in the investigation.

“The arrest of these individuals is an example of the commitment of Postal Inspectors and their law enforcement partners to bring to justice anyone who uses the U.S. Mail to facilitate the transport of illegal drugs, ensuring the safety of the mail, our employees and customers,” said Inspector in Charge Shelly A. Binkowski of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

Each of the following defendants are charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base. Because of the varying quantities of narcotics charged to each defendant, individuals face between five years and life in prison, if convicted, according to the release.

Westly Northup, a.k.a. “Piff,” 29, of Meriden

Carlos Roman, a.k.a. “Frizz,” 37, of Middletown

Denise Hernandez, a.k.a. “Booty,” 29, of Meriden Rigoberto Hernandez, a.k.a. “Tito,” 36, of Meriden Shane Blake, 34, of Bristol

Omar Rivera, a.k.a. “O,” 34, of New Britain

Antonia Miranda, a.k.a. “Tone” and “Primo,” 28, of New Britain

Calvin Vaughn, a.k.a. “Squeaks,” 34, of Middletown Turon Davis, a.k.a. “Slim,” 39, of Middletown

Kasean White, a.k.a. “Slay,” 29, of Middletown

Derrick Bryant, 26, of Middletown

Each of the following defendants was charged with conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute cocaine. If convicted, each defendant faces between 10 years and life in prison, except for Omar Rivera, who faces between five years and 40 years in prison, according to the release.

Orlando Quiros, a.k.a. “O” and “Gordo,” 40, of Suffield Leonel Quiros, a.k.a. “Haze,” 33, of New Britain Corey Best, 32, of Bloomfield Lisette Perez, 34, of Springfield, Mass. Steven Riccelli, 42, of Unionville Luis Arroyo, 56, of New Britain Omar Rivera, a.k.a. “O,” 34, of New Britain.