Rafael Orlando Garcia, 35, of Hartford, was sentenced on March 10 to 60 months in federal prison and four years of supervised release for distributing fentanyl and cocaine, according to United States Attorney David X. Sullivan for the District of Connecticut.
The sentencing follows an investigation by the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force, which identified Garcia as a significant narcotics trafficker in the Hartford area. Court documents show that between February and April 2025, investigators conducted three controlled purchases from Garcia. These included approximately 36 grams of fentanyl and 28 grams of cocaine on February 28, about 80 grams of fentanyl on March 12, and roughly 100 grams of fentanyl along with 280 grams of cocaine on April 1.
Garcia was arrested on April 8, 2025. He pleaded guilty on October 15, 2025 to multiple charges: possession with intent to distribute and distribution of fentanyl and cocaine; possession with intent to distribute and distribution of more than 40 grams of fentanyl; and possession with intent to distribute and distribution of more than 40 grams of fentanyl as well as a quantity of cocaine.
Currently released on bond, Garcia is required to report to prison on May 11. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean P. Mahard.
This prosecution is part of Operation Take Back America, described as a nationwide initiative using Department of Justice resources “to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.”