Leonard C Boyle, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division, and Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England, today announced that WILLIE FRANCO, 33, and DANIELLA FOX, 31, both of New Haven, were arrested yesterday and charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and fentanyl.
As alleged in a criminal complaint, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Narcotics and Bulk Cash Trafficking Task Force and Drug Enforcement Administration have been investigating Franco and Fox’s narcotics trafficking activities since 2021. On March 2, 2022, investigators intercepted a USPS parcel destined for an address in East Haven associated with Franco and Fox. A court-authorized search of the parcel revealed approximately one kilogram of cocaine and one kilogram of fentanyl. Investigators also identified other suspicious parcels, which originated in Arizona and California, that had been mailed to the address, and another address associated with Franco and Fox, since July 2021.
On March 7, 2022, law enforcement made a controlled delivery of the intercepted parcel to the East Haven address. Franco and Fox, who were waiting in a car that was parked on the street, were arrested after Fox retrieved the package. A subsequent search of Franco and Fox’s New Haven residence resulted in the seizure of approximately one kilogram of fentanyl, a quantity of crack cocaine, digital scales and other narcotics packaging paraphernalia, a loaded Glock .40 pistol with an obliterated serial number, a drum extended magazine for a high-capacity rifle, a bulletproof vest, ammunition, and more than $300,000 in cash.
Franco and Fox appeared yesterday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert M. Spector in New Haven and were ordered detained.
If convicted of the charge, Franco and Fox face a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.
U.S. Attorney Boyle stressed that a complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This ongoing investigation is being conducted by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Narcotics and Bulk Cash Trafficking Task Force and the Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from the New Haven Police Department, East Haven Police Department and Connecticut State Police. The Task Force includes members from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Postal Service – Office of the Inspector General, the Connecticut Army National Guard, and the Hartford, New Britain, Meriden and Town of Groton Police Departments.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tara E. Levens and Konstantin Lantsman.