Jatniel Morales Gonzalez, 28, of Ponce, Puerto Rico, has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison and five years of supervised release for his role in a cocaine trafficking operation. The sentencing was announced by David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut.
According to court documents and statements made during proceedings, an investigation led by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Narcotics and Bulk Cash Trafficking Task Force uncovered a network responsible for shipping parcels containing kilogram quantities of cocaine from Puerto Rico to addresses in Connecticut and Massachusetts. Joseph Giovanni Soto was identified as the leader of this operation. The organization used runners to collect packages from drop addresses in New Britain and Meriden, Connecticut, as well as Holyoke and West Springfield, Massachusetts. These parcels were then delivered to Soto’s residence in Bloomfield or his uncle Ramon Soto’s home in New Britain before being distributed further.
Authorities intercepted 10 suspicious parcels during their investigation, each containing about two kilograms of cocaine. They also identified approximately 280 additional parcels suspected of containing similar amounts that had already been delivered.
After Joseph Giovanni Soto’s arrest on May 1, 2023, investigators noticed renewed activity involving suspicious parcels sent from Puerto Rico to the New Britain and Meriden areas. These packages were traced to a Waterbury address where Morales Gonzalez resided. Investigators determined that Morales Gonzalez had previously worked with Soto and took over operations in Connecticut following Soto’s arrest.
Investigators identified new drop addresses linked to Morales Gonzalez and observed him retrieving packages before they were ultimately transported to the Bronx. During this phase of the investigation, authorities flagged 98 more suspicious parcels and seized four that each contained about two kilograms of cocaine.
A search conducted at Morales Gonzalez’s residence on June 26, 2024 resulted in the seizure of approximately two kilograms of cocaine, a loaded handgun, a Smith & Wesson M&P 9 Shield firearm, and two drug ledgers.
Morales Gonzalez pleaded guilty on September 2, 2025 to conspiracy charges related to possessing with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine. He is currently released on $100,000 bond and must report to prison on January 21.
Other members involved have also faced charges: Joseph Giovanni Soto pleaded guilty and received a sentence of 14 years; Ramon Soto pleaded guilty to a related charge and was sentenced to ten years; Brian Martinez Rivera (29) of Torrington and Luis Torres Ortiz (24) of New Britain have pleaded guilty as well but await sentencing.
The case was investigated by several agencies including the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; U.S. Postal Service – Office of Inspector General; Hartford Police Department; Plainville Police Department; Meriden Police Department; with prosecution handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephanie Levick and Konstantin Lantsman.