Middletown man gets 10 years for role in drug ring

HARTFORD — A 38-year-old Middletown man was sentenced Thursday by U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant in Hartford to 120 months of imprisonment for his role in a central Connecticut cocaine and crack cocaine trafficking ring, according to a release.

Carlos “Frizz” Roman must also serve five years of supervised release, according to the release from the U.S. attorney’s office.

This matter stems from a joint investigation headed by the DEA New Haven Task Force that included the use of court-authorized wiretaps, controlled purchases of crack cocaine and seizures of cocaine and cash proceeds, according to the release.

The investigation revealed that an associate of Roman’s was operating a cocaine and crack cocaine trafficking ring while the associate was incarcerated in state custody. Roman was a primary distributor of narcotics for the organization, police said. During the investigation, an undercover officer made five controlled purchases of redistribution quantities of crack from Roman.

Roman was arrested on April 11, 2017. On that date, he possessed approximately 500 grams of cocaine. A subsequent search of his home revealed a .380 caliber handgun, according to court records.

On July 20, 2017, a grand jury in New Haven returned a ninecount indictment charging Roman and 10 other people with various offenses. On Jan. 18, he pleaded guilty to one count of with conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and 280 grams or more of cocaine base (“crack”) and one count of possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon.

Roman has been detained since his arrest.

This matter is being investigated by the DEA New Haven Task Force, U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Middletown and New Britain Police Departments. The DEA New Haven Task Force includes participants from the New Haven, Hamden, West Haven, North Haven, East Haven, Branford, Ansonia, Meriden and Derby Police Departments, and the U.S. Marshals Service.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney H. Gordon Hall.