Nine Charged in Southeastern Connecticut Cocaine Trafficking Investigation; About 10 Kilograms of Cocaine Seized
NEW HAVEN, Connecticut — The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Connecticut announced that nine people have been charged by indictment with offenses related to the distribution of cocaine and crack cocaine in southeastern Connecticut. U.S. Attorney David X. Sullivan, DEA Special Agent in Charge Jarod Forget for New England, and ATF Special Agent in Charge Thomas A. Greco of the Boston Field Division announced the charges.
The nine defendants are Michael Smith, also known as "Miz," 53, of Lisbon; Anthony Gomez, also known as "Jungle," 46, of Norwich; Robert Duran, 46, of Mount Vernon, New York; Deonna White, 48, of Norwich; Rocky Laurent, 48, of New London; Sarah Butler, 43, of Norwich; Heather Roy, 44, of Canterbury; Cordelia Harris, 49, of New London; and Keith Nival, 46, of New London.
As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, a Homeland Security Task Force investigation that included court-authorized wiretaps, video surveillance, GPS tracking of vehicles, and numerous controlled purchases of narcotics revealed that Smith supplied cocaine and crack to a network of redistributors in southeastern Connecticut. Laurent, Butler, Roy, Harris, and Nival purchased cocaine and crack from Smith and sold it in smaller quantities to their own customers.
On October 8, 2026, investigators conducting surveillance at a parking lot in Clinton observed Smith, White, and Duran arrive in separate vehicles. Smith retrieved a reusable shopping bag from White's vehicle and gave it to Duran, who placed a box in the back of Smith's vehicle. The three were arrested after a search of the box revealed approximately 10 kilograms of cocaine, and a search of the shopping bag revealed more than $170,000 in cash. Butler was also arrested on October 8 after a search of her residence in the Taftville section of Norwich revealed narcotics and drug packaging materials. Investigators also searched two of Smith's vehicles, finding cocaine and crack packaged for redistribution in one, and a firearm and more than 200 rounds of ammunition in the other.
Gomez, Roy, Harris, and Nival were arrested on October 15, 2026, and Laurent has been in state custody since September 23, 2026. Smith, Gomez, Duran, and Nival have been detained since their arrests. On October 27, 2026, a grand jury in New Haven returned a superseding indictment charging each defendant with conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute cocaine.
Based on the quantity of cocaine attributed to each defendant, Smith, Gomez, Duran, White, and Laurent face a mandatory minimum of 10 years and a maximum of life imprisonment if convicted; Butler, Harris, and Roy face a mandatory minimum of five years and a maximum of 40 years; and Nival faces a maximum of 20 years. Gomez is also charged with three counts of distributing 28 grams or more of crack cocaine, Smith and Duran with possession with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, and Smith with unlawful possession of ammunition by a felon. The indictment also seeks forfeiture of $196,353 in cash and five vehicles seized during the investigation.
The matter is being investigated by the DEA and the ATF, with assistance from the Connecticut State Police, and is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office. U.S. Attorney Sullivan stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 康涅狄格州 New Haven 的 Robert N. Giaimo 联邦大楼（起诉书由 New Haven 大陪审团递交，资料图）。Wobbanight 摄，CC0，经 Wikimedia Commons。 / The Robert N. Giaimo Federal Building in New Haven, Connecticut (file photo). Photo by Wobbanight, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.
