New Haven Car Dealer Pleads Guilty to Federal Cocaine and Crack Distribution Offenses

Topics:  Roberto Rodriguez

U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Connecticut
July 30, 2009

Nora R. Dannehy, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that ROBERTO RODRIGUEZ, also known as “Tito,” 50, of New Haven, pleaded guilty yesterday, July 29, before United States Magistrate Judge William I. Garfinkel in Bridgeport, to one count conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine, and one count of distribution of 50 grams or more of cocaine base (“crack cocaine”).

This matter stems from an Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (“OCDETF”) investigation dubbed “Operation Brass Deal,” which was spearheaded by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Safe Streets Task Force in New Haven. On June 4, 2009, a federal grand jury returned a 21-count Indictment charging RODRIGUEZ and 13 other individuals with various narcotics offenses related to the large-scale distribution of cocaine, crack cocaine, marijuana and oxycodone in New Haven, East Haven, Branford, West Haven, and other towns in New Haven County.

According to documents filed with the Court and statements made in court, RODRIGUEZ, the owner of Buy Rite Auto Sales on Ella Grasso Boulevard in New Haven, participated in this narcotics distribution conspiracy between November 2008 and May 2009. The investigation revealed that, during that time, RODRIGUEZ distributed cocaine and crack cocaine on 11 separate occasions.

RODRIGUEZ has been detained since his arrest on May 21, 2009.

During the course of the arrest of RODRIGUEZ and his co-defendants, law enforcement officers seized more than $75,000 in cash, more than one kilogram of cocaine and approximately 750 grams of crack cocaine.

RODRIGUEZ is scheduled to be sentenced by United States District Judge Stefan R. Underhill on October 16, 2009, at which time RODRIGUEZ faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years, a maximum term of imprisonment of life and a fine of up to $4 million.

This matter was investigated by the FBI New Haven Safe Streets Task Force, which is composed of representatives of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the New Haven Police Department, the Ansonia Police Department, the Milford Police Department, the East Haven Police Department, the Connecticut State Police and the Connecticut Department of Correction. This matter is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Robert M. Spector and Christopher M. Mattei.