Hartford Man Sentenced to 27 Months in Federal Prison for Role in Drug Ring

February 18, 2010 - Nora R. Dannehy, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ALEXANDER GUZMAN, also known as “Diego” and “Lex,” 29, Elliot Street, Hartford, was sentenced today by Senior United States District Judge Peter C. Dorsey in New Haven to 27 months of imprisonment, followed by one year of supervised release, for his participation in a narcotics trafficking ring. On December 2, 2009, GUZMAN pleaded guilty to one count of using a telephone to facilitate the commission of a drug trafficking felony.

This matter stems from “Operation Solid Gold,” a joint law enforcement investigation headed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Northern Connecticut Violent Crimes Task Force. The year-long investigation included the use of court-authorized wiretaps, controlled purchases of cocaine and heroin, and physical surveillance. As a result of the investigation, 55 individuals were charged with various offenses related to the distribution of cocaine and heroin in and around Hartford.

According to court documents and statements made in court, the investigation revealed that Victor Esteves, also known as “Gadget,” and Reynaldo Laureano, also known as “Pichy,” were high-ranking members of the Almighty Latin King Nation (“Latin Kings”) who controlled the drug trade in separate neighborhoods in Hartford. During the investigation, GUZMAN, who is not a member of the Latin Kings, was intercepted frequently over a wiretap of Esteves’ phone ordering distribution quantities of cocaine. On one occasion, GUZMAN was intercepted on Laureano’s phone negotiating the purchase of a “stack” of heroin, or 100 dose bags.

GUZMAN has been detained since his arrest on May 19, 2009.

Esteves and Laureano previously pleaded guilty to charges related to their participation in this narcotics trafficking conspiracy. On October 16, 2009, Esteves was sentenced to 72 months of imprisonment. On January 22, 2010, Laureano was sentenced to 97 months of imprisonment.

This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Northern Connecticut Violent Crimes Task Force, the Statewide Cooperative Crime Control Task Force of the Connecticut State Police, and the Hartford Police Department, with assistance from the Statewide Organized Crime Investigative Task Force of the Connecticut State Police, Connecticut State Police, Troop H, and the Connecticut Department of Correction. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Brian P. Leaming and Geoffrey M. Stone.