Leonard C Boyle, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that RAUL ROBLES, 38, of New London, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer in New Haven to 24 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for his role in a narcotics trafficking conspiracy in which cocaine was mailed through the U.S. Postal Service from Puerto Rico to southeastern Connecticut.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in August 2020, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Narcotics and Bulk Cash Trafficking Task Force in Connecticut intercepted a suspicious package that was destined for a location in Puerto Rico. A court-authorized search of the package revealed $158,900 in cash. Investigators established a connection between Robles and the seized package, and learned that Robles’ residence on Blackhall Street in New London, which he shared with his cousin, Abraham Rosado, had received approximately 25 parcels from Puerto Rico since September 2019.
Investigators continued to monitor USPS deliveries of parcels mailed from Puerto Rico to the Blackhall Street residence, including multiple parcels addressed to names of individuals who did not reside there. A court-authorized search of one parcel that had been mailed to a fictitious individual at the residence revealed more than a kilogram of cocaine.
Robles was arrested on a federal criminal complaint on April 9, 2021. On September 21, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute cocaine.
Robles, who is released on bond, is required to report to prison on April 28.
Rosado pleaded guilty on February 17, 2022, and is detained while awaiting sentencing.
This matter is being investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Narcotics and Bulk Cash Trafficking Task Force, with assistance from the New London and Town of Groton Police Departments. 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. Attorney Konstantin Lantsman.