Fairfield Lawyer Represents Three Fairfield County Men Guilty Of Cocaine Distribution Ring

Kevin J. O’Connor, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that three individuals have pleaded guilty to federal felony narcotics charges related to their involvement in a southwestern Connecticut PCP and “crack” cocaine distribution ring. On July 7, LUIS RODRIGUEZ, age 29, of 91 Finney Lane, Stamford, Connecticut, pleaded guilty to conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute and distribution of PCP; on July 12, LAMONT WATTS, age 30, of 33 Durant Street, Stamford, pleaded guilty to conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute and distribution of PCP; and on July 13, CLARK WELLS, age 55, of 95 Quarry Knoll, Greenwich, Connecticut, pleaded guilty to using a telephone to facilitate the preparation of narcotics for distribution. Each plea was entered before United States Magistrate Judge Joan G. Margolis in New Haven.

At sentencing, RODRIGUEZ will face a statutory maximum term of imprisonment of ten years, WATTS will face a statutory maximum term of imprisonment of five years and WELLS will face a statutory maximum term of imprisonment of four years. RODRIGUEZ, WATTS and WELLS are currently scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Janet Bond Arterton on September 23, October 2 and October 3, respectively.

RODRIGUEZ, WATTS and WELLS were arrested as part of a federal investigation into a crack cocaine and PCP distribution ring operating in Fairfield County. Earlier this year, federal and local law enforcement officers arrested 30 individuals in Stamford, Greenwich, Norwalk, and Bridgeport as part of the investigation. Law enforcement officers also conducted searches of nine residences in Connecticut and New York and recovered crack cocaine, PCP, drug packing materials, narcotics paraphernalia, and United States currency.

On March 9, 2005, a federal grand jury sitting in Bridgeport returned a multi-count Indictment against RODRIGUEZ, WATTS, WELLS and others alleging various violations of the federal narcotics laws.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force. The Task Force is comprised of law enforcement officers from the Drug Enforcement Administration, Bridgeport Police Department, Easton Police Department, Stratford Police Department, Norwalk Police Department, Stamford Police Department, and Greenwich Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys James J. Finnerty and Edward T. Kang.