Bridgeport Man Sentenced to Nearly 13 Years in Federal Prison for Dealing Cocaine

April 6, 2010 - Nora R. Dannehy, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JOSE LUIS SANCHEZ, 39, formerly of Voight Street, Bridgeport, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Janet C. Hall in Bridgeport to 150 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for his participation in a Bridgeport-based narcotics trafficking ring. On November 4, 2009, SANCHEZ pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine.

This matter stems from “Operation G-Force,” a joint law enforcement investigation into Bridgeport-area narcotics trafficking headed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Safe Streets Task Force. The year-long investigation, which has led to the indictment, prosecution, and conviction of more than 45 individuals, included the use of court-authorized wiretaps, federal search and seizure warrants, controlled purchases of cocaine, crack, and heroin, and physical surveillance.

According to court documents and statements made in court, from approximately January 2002 to February 2009, George Sanchez headed a large-scale cocaine and crack cocaine distribution ring operating in Bridgeport. Using the U.S. Mail, DHL, and other shipping services, Sanchez had, on average, two kilograms of cocaine shipped from Puerto Rico to various residences in Bridgeport each week. The cocaine was wrapped and secreted inside electronic devices such as VCRs, clothing, and other items. Once the packages were received in Bridgeport, Sanchez and his associates would process some of the cocaine into crack cocaine, and package the cocaine and crack cocaine for distribution to other narcotics traffickers in the Bridgeport area.

During the entire period of the conspiracy, JOSE LUIS SANCHEZ, who is not related to George Sanchez, was an active participant in the drug conspiracy and a member of George Sanchez’s inner circle. At George Sanchez’s direction, JOSE LUIS SANCHEZ would receive cocaine shipments on behalf of the drug conspiracy. JOSE LUIS SANCHEZ also had a profitable cocaine distribution business. At the time of his arrest, SANCHEZ possessed, in his bedroom, one of George Sanchez’s guns, a Glock 27 handgun.

On September 25, 2009, George Sanchez pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, and one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base (“crack cocaine”). He awaits sentencing.

This matter was investigated by members of the FBI Safe Streets Task Force, which is composed of federal agents and state and local officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, the Connecticut State Police Statewide Narcotics Task Force, and the Bridgeport, Stamford, Stratford, Fairfield, Trumbull, and Norwalk Police Departments. This matter is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Hal Chen and S. Dave Vatti.