Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England, today announced that a federal jury in Bridgeport has found LUIS CASTRO, 33, of Waterbury, guilty of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine.
The trial before U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill began on August 24 and the jury returned its verdict yesterday.
According to the evidence and testimony at trial, a DEA Task Force investigation identified Castro as being involved in cocaine trafficking activity. On September 10, 2018, a court-authorized search of Castro’s residence on Delaware Avenue in Waterbury revealed approximately 566 grams of cocaine, a large kilogram press, narcotics paraphernalia, and $8,292 in cash.
Judge Underhill scheduled sentencing for November 19, 2021, at which time Castro faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years. Castro is released on a $200,000 bond pending sentencing.
This is Castro’s second federal conviction. In March 2011, he was sentenced in the Southern District of New York to 18 months of imprisonment for distributing cocaine and crack cocaine, and illegally dealing firearms.
This matter has been investigated by the DEA Bridgeport High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rahul Kale and Tara Levens.
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