John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, said that Ulpiano Lugo of Groton entered his guilty plea on Tuesday, May 8 before Senior U.S. District Judge Alfred V. Covello.
This matter stems from an ongoing statewide initiative targeting narcotics dealers who distribute heroin, fentanyl or opioids that cause death or serious injury to drug users.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on April 22, 2017, at about 7:37 p.m., Groton City Police and emergency medical personnel responded to a residence in Groton and found an unresponsive 37-year-old male in the bedroom of the residence. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene. Officers collected from the bedroom one used syringe that was one-third full of an unknown liquid, a bent metal spoon with an off-white residue on the surface, one plastic bag with powder residue, and the victim’s cellphone.
Subsequent analysis of the powder residue revealed the presence of heroin and cocaine, and text messages from the victim’s cellphone confirmed that the victim had asked for drugs from Lugo in the days before the victim’s death.
Judge Covello scheduled sentencing for Aug. 1 when Lugo faces a maximum federal prison term of 20 years. Lugo is being held pending his sentencing.
This matter is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New Haven Task Force and the Groton City Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jocelyn Courtney Kaoutzanis.
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