Hartford Cocaine Dealer Sentenced to Federal Prison

January 20, 2010 - Nora R. Dannehy, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that JOSE CARABALLO, also known as “Vidal” and “El Baboso,” 41, a citizen of the Dominican Republic last residing on Nahum Drive in Hartford, was sentenced yesterday, January 19, by Senior United States District Judge Warren W. Eginton in Bridgeport 12 months and one day of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for his participation in a Hartford-area narcotics trafficking ring. On October 30, 2009, CARABALLO pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine.

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, CARABALLO was intercepted over a wiretap negotiating the purchase of cocaine from another member of the conspiracy. CARABALLO then sold some or all of the cocaine to his own customers.

CARABALLO has been detained since his arrest on February 26, 2009. He faces immigration proceedings after he completes his prison term.

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.