Wethersfield Man Sentenced to Seven Years in Federal Prison for Distributing Heroin

The United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut today announced that EDWIN MALDONADO, also known as “Chunk,” 29, formerly of Goff Road, Wethersfield, was sentenced today by Senior United States District Judge Ellen Bree Burns in New Haven to 84 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release, for distributing heroin. This matter stems from “Operation Northern Strike,” a 15-month joint law enforcement investigation targeting alleged members and associates of geographically-based street gangs engaging in criminal activity in Hartford’s Upper Albany and Northeast neighborhoods. The investigation included the use of court-authorized wiretaps on multiple telephones, controlled purchases of narcotics and physical surveillance. As a result of the investigation, 35 individuals were charged with various federal drug and firearms violations. According to court documents and statements made in court, MALDONADO supplied packaged heroin to another member of the conspiracy. During the investigation, intercepted conversations revealed that MALDONADO regularly sold multiple “stacks” of heroin, or one or more “boxes” of heroin, to his co-defendant. A “stack” is a street term for one hundred bags of heroin, and a “box” is a street term for 500 bags of heroin. The heroin was then sold in smaller quantities in the area of Edgewood Street in Hartford. On November 24, 2010, MALDONADO pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin. MALDONADO has been detained since his arrest on September 21, 2010. Not all of the defendants charged as a result of this investigation are alleged to be gang members or associates. This matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Northern Connecticut Violent Crimes Gang Task Force – which includes representatives of the FBI, Connecticut State Police and Hartford Police Department—and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Brian P. Leaming and Geoffrey M. Stone.