A Waterbury man has been sentenced to 32 months in prison for his involvement in a local drug trafficking operation. Jose Delrosario-Canela, also known as “Domi,” received the sentence from U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford. Following his prison term, Delrosario-Canela will be subject to three years of supervised release.
The case was part of an investigation by the FBI’s Waterbury Safe Streets Gang Task Force and other law enforcement agencies into two drug trafficking organizations operating in Waterbury. These organizations distributed cocaine, crack, and fentanyl through a network of sellers, sharing sources of supply and collaborating to enhance their operations.
Delrosario-Canela was identified as a main street-level distributor for one of these groups based on Maple Avenue. Law enforcement conducted two controlled purchases of crack cocaine from him during the investigation.
The investigation led to federal charges against seventeen individuals, including Delrosario-Canela, who were arrested on November 29, 2023. During these arrests, authorities executed search warrants that resulted in the seizure of approximately 700 grams of crack cocaine, over 900 vials of crack, around 200 grams of loose fentanyl, more than 1,600 dose bags containing fentanyl/heroin mixtures, two stolen firearms with ammunition, and over $39,000 in cash.
Detained since his arrest, Delrosario-Canela pleaded guilty on February 11, 2025, to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances.
The task force involved members from several agencies including the FBI and various local police departments. The DEA and Homeland Security Investigations also assisted in the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Natasha Freismuth and Shan Patel are prosecuting this case under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program. Additional details about this program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
U.S. Attorney David X. Sullivan expressed gratitude towards the Waterbury State Attorney’s Office for its cooperation throughout the investigation and prosecution process.
