NAUGATUCK, CT — A Naugatuck resident was sentenced Wednesday to 33 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release on heroin distribution charges, U.S. Attorney for Connecticut Vanessa Roberts Avery announced in a news release.
Police determined the organization was distributing large amounts of heroin, cocaine and crack in the Waterbury area, according to Avery.
The investigation included court-authorized wiretaps on multiple phones used by members of the organization, physical surveillance, controlled purchases of narcotics and motor vehicle stops that resulted in the seizure of drugs, Avery said.
According to Avery, the investigation revealed the head of the organization was working closely with a separate Naugatuck man to distribute narcotics, and Mines was intercepted multiple times on a wiretap ordering distribution quantities of heroin from the Naugatuck man between November 2020 and January 2021.
The Naugatuck man then sold the drugs to his own customers, Avery said.
On March 1, 2021, a federal grand jury in New Haven returned an indictment charging Mines, the head of the organization and 15 others. Mines pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute heroin in December.
Mines has been detained since his arrest on March 3, 2021. On that date, police executed seven search warrants and seized approximately 40,000 bags of suspected heroin, 350 grams of cocaine, 50 grams of crack cocaine and nine firearms, according to Avery.
The investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration New Haven Task Force and the Waterbury Police Department, Avery said.
