Fifteen people have been indicted by a federal grand jury in New Haven on charges of conspiring to traffic fentanyl and cocaine into and around southern Connecticut, according to an announcement from David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and P.J. O’Brien, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The indictment names Damien Hazel, Yanishka Arroyo-Rivera (also known as “Nani”), Nicholas Vega (“Nick”), Omar Viera (“O”), Jonathan Mejia (“Big Head”), Nestor Rosado (“Joey”), Victor Francisco Bonilla (“Mostro”), Kelvin Olivo, Brenjinellie Gonzalez (“Brenji”), Roberto DeJesus (“Pedro Ramirez” and “Tito”), Daniel Ruiz (“Jumbo”), Jaffar Ali, Davon Warner (“DaeDae”), Madison Cruz (“Maddie”), and Jaszae Vazquez.
Court documents state that Hazel is alleged to have led a narcotics trafficking organization distributing fentanyl, cocaine, and crack cocaine throughout southern Connecticut. The investigation found that Hazel and others traveled to the Bronx, New York to obtain large quantities of fentanyl and deliver drug proceeds. They also traveled to Puerto Rico to acquire cocaine, which was then shipped via U.S. Mail to various addresses in Connecticut. Authorities seized several packages containing at least 16 kilograms of cocaine during the investigation.
Hazel and thirteen co-defendants were arrested on September 10, 2025; DeJesus was arrested two days later. During these arrests, law enforcement seized two firearms and ammunition from a residence shared by Hazel and Arroyo-Rivera; ammunition and suspected narcotics from DeJesus; and suspected narcotics from Vega, Ali, and Warner.
“As alleged, this organization trafficked a significant amount of fentanyl and cocaine into our state, and I thank the members of FBI Bridgeport Safe Streets Task Force, with the assistance of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, who shut down this drug importation and distribution network,” said U.S. Attorney Sullivan. “The scourge of illegal narcotics continues to ruin lives in Connecticut, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to targeting and prosecuting those who are profiting from it.”
“This indictment demonstrates FBI New Haven’s top priority of crushing violent crime,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge P.J. O’Brien. “Along with our federal and local partners, we are committed to removing dangerous drugs, like fentanyl and cocaine, from the streets of Connecticut. The FBI will continue to bring the full breadth of our resources to the table to support our partners and keep our neighborhoods safe.”
Each defendant is charged with conspiracy to distribute or possess with intent to distribute cocaine and fentanyl. For some defendants—Hazel, Arroyo-Rivera, Vega, Viera, Mejia, Rosado, Bonilla, Olivo, Gonzalez—the charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years up to life imprisonment if convicted; for DeJesus, Ruiz, Ali, Warner, Cruz,and Vazquez it carries a minimum five-year sentence up to forty years.
Currently Hazel, DeJesus,Vega ,Mejia ,Bonilla ,Ruiz ,and Ali are detained while eight others have been released pending trial.
U.S.Attorney Sullivan emphasized that all defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The case is being investigated by multiple agencies including the FBI Bridgeport Safe Streets Task Force,U.S.Postal Inspection Service,the Drug Enforcement Administration,the Connecticut State Police,and several municipal police departments across Connecticut as well as Louisville,Kentucky.The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S.Attorneys Lauren C.Clark and Kenneth L.Gresham.
This case falls under Operation Take Back America,a Department of Justice initiative focused on combating illegal immigration,dismantling cartels,and addressing violent crime through coordination among federal,state,and local agencies using resources such as Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
