Hugo Ivan Ramirez-Bellozo, a 35-year-old Mexican national, has been sentenced to five years in federal prison for his involvement in a fentanyl trafficking operation. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Robert N. Chatigny in Hartford, Connecticut.
The case is part of an investigation by the DEA Hartford Task Force into a drug trafficking organization based in Hartford. This group was involved in distributing large quantities of fentanyl and other narcotics, as well as laundering the proceeds from their illegal activities.
In January 2022, law enforcement officers stopped a minivan and discovered $92,000 hidden inside. Investigations revealed that Harold Luis Del Orbe, also known as “Jaro,” was directing the minivan’s operators to conduct drug transactions on his behalf.
On November 16, 2022, authorities executed a search warrant at an apartment on Putnam Heights in Hartford. They seized approximately 1.5 kilograms of fentanyl, narcotics processing equipment, and a loaded .40 caliber semi-automatic handgun. Ramirez-Bellozo and Del Orbe were present during the search.
Ramirez-Bellozo has been detained since his arrest on November 16, 2022. He pleaded guilty on November 21, 2024, to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl. Following his prison term, he faces removal proceedings.
Del Orbe also pleaded guilty to related charges and received a ten-year prison sentence on May 6, 2025.
The DEA’s Hartford Task Force conducted this investigation with personnel from various police departments across Connecticut. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Geoffrey M. Stone and Robert S. Dearington through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program.
Further information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
