Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that FELIX ORTEGA-PAGAN, 41, of Waterbury, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford to 60 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release, for trafficking cocaine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, an investigation led by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Bulk Cash Trafficking Task Force determined that Ortega-Pagan’s associate, Pierre Joshwan Rodriguez, headed a cocaine trafficking operation in which parcels containing kilogram quantities of cocaine were shipped through the U.S. mail from Puerto Rico to multiple addresses in Waterbury. Rodriguez distributed the cocaine in the Waterbury area and mailed money parcels back to Puerto Rico. Ortega-Pagan assisted Rodriguez by frequently picking up the cocaine parcels and delivering them to Rodriguez at various stash locations. Alejandra Santiago-Miranda was a frequent mailer of cocaine parcels from Puerto Rico to Waterbury and was also the recipient of multiple money parcels.
Investigators seized approximately 28 kilograms of cocaine and $216,000 in cash during the investigation.
Ortega-Pagan was arrested on November 20, 2020. On September 6, 2022, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, 500 grams or more of cocaine.
Ortega-Pagan, who is released on bond, is required to report to prison on February 17.
Rodriguez, also known as “Ochy” of Waterbury, and Santiago-Miranda, of Toa Baja, Puerto Rico, pleaded guilty to related charges. Rodriguez awaits sentencing and, on December 6, 2022, Santiago-Miranda was sentenced to three years of probation.
This matter has been investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Narcotics and Bulk Cash Trafficking Task Force, which 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 Natasha M. Freismuth.