New Britain fentanyl dealer gets federal prison for drug and weapon offenses
A New Britain drug dealer was sentenced to more than six years in federal prison this week for fentanyl distribution and firearm possession offenses, according to federal officials.
Roberto Mercedes-Rodriguez, 43, of New Britain, was sentenced Tuesday by U.S. District Judge Robert N. Chatigny in Hartford to 78 months in prison, followed by four years of supervised release, the U.S. Attorney’s office said Wednesday.
Mercedes-Rodriguez pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon and one count of possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl on Dec. 12, 2022.
An investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration New Haven Tactical Diversion Squad and the New Britain Police Department revealed that Mercedes-Rodriguez and others were selling fentanyl in the New Britain area, according to court records.
In February 2021, Mercedes-Rodriguez was arrested by New Britain police after he was found in possession of packaged fentanyl, a loaded stolen 9mm handgun and two high-capacity magazines, court records said. While out on bond on the state charges, investigators observed Mercedes-Rodriguez making hand-to-hand drug deals between August 2021 and February 2022.
Mercedes-Rodriguez was then arrested on federal charges on Feb. 24, 2022. Police conducted a court-authorized search of his home and found 2,000 wax paper folds containing fentanyl, court records said.
Mercedes-Rodriguez’s criminal history includes felony convictions for narcotics, robbery, assault, failure to appear, domestic violence-related offenses and multiple probation violations. Therefore, it was a violation of federal law for him to possess a firearm or ammunition.
Mercedes-Rodriguez has been detained since March 11, 2022, when his bond was revoked.