Naugatuck man sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for trafficking heroin

NAUGATUCK, CT – John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that LARRY HALL, also known as “Chuito” and “Bobo,” 49, of Naugatuck, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Janet C. Hall to 120 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for trafficking heroin.

Pursuant to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), the sentencing occurred via videoconference.

According to court documents and statements made in court, this matter stems from a joint investigation headed by the DEA New Haven Task Force and the Waterbury and Naugatuck Police Departments into a heroin and cocaine trafficking operation headed by Keith Jordan of Waterbury. The investigation, which included the use of court-authorized wiretaps, physical surveillance and controlled purchases of narcotics, revealed that Jordan was receiving large quantities of heroin from various suppliers, including Pedro Santos, of Waterbury, and selling to drug to other distributors and street-level customers. Jordan also purchased and distributed cocaine.

During the investigation, a wiretap identified Hall as Santos’ heroin supplier, and revealed that Hall was supplying other drug sellers with raw heroin on credit.

On March 13, 2019, a grand jury in Hartford returned an indictment charging Hall, Jordan, Santos and 26 other individuals with various offenses related to the distribution of heroin, fentanyl, cocaine and crack cocaine.

Hall and several codefendants were arrested on March 20, 2019. In association with the arrests, investigators seized approximately 3,000 bags of heroin, 400 grams of cocaine, 350 grams of fentanyl/heroin mixed, 400 grams of heroin, 10 grams of crack, 20 pounds of marijuana, fentanyl patches, a one-kilogram press, four handguns, approximately $120,000 in cash and four vehicles.

Approximately $30,000 of the cash seized was found in Hall’s residence.

Hall has been detained since his arrest. On November 4, 2019, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, one kilogram or more of heroin.

Jordan and Santos pleaded guilty to related charges. On September 18, 2020, Santos was sentenced to 66 months of imprisonment. Jordan awaits sentencing.

This investigation has been conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration New Haven Task Force, Waterbury Police Department and Naugatuck Police Department, with the critical assistance of the U.S. Secret Service, New York Field Office. The DEA New Haven Task Force includes participants from the U.S. Marshals Service, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, and the New Haven, Hamden, West Haven, North Haven, Branford, Ansonia, Meriden, Derby, Middletown, Naugatuck and Waterbury Police Departments.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys S. Dave Vatti and Nathaniel J. Gentile through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

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