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Johnny Ortega, also known as "Clatcho," age 39, of Hartford was sentenced on Tuesday, Dec. 28, according to Leonard C Boyle, US Attorney for the District of Connecticut.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in 2018, the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force began investigating Ricardo Reyes, also known as “Rick the Ruler,” a member of the Los Solidos street gang who was distributing fentanyl, heroin, cocaine and crack in the area of Park Street and Hungerford Street in Hartford.
During the investigation, law enforcement conducted multiple controlled purchases of narcotics from Reyes, court documents showed.
Ortega, who is Reyes’ brother-in-law, supplied Reyes with fentanyl and used his Rowe Avenue residence to store, process, and package fentanyl for distribution, court documents said.
A June 2019 search of the residence revealed approximately 3,450 dose-bags of fentanyl, narcotics paraphernalia, a loaded Glock .40 caliber pistol, and ammunition, according to statements made in court.
Later in June, a Hartford grand jury returned a 32-count indictment charging Reyes, Ortega, and 13 associates with various narcotics trafficking and firearm possession offenses.
Ortega was arrested on July 2, 2019. In April he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and distribution of, 40 grams or more of fentanyl.
Ortega, who is released on a $200,000 bond, is required to report to prison in February.
Reyes pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 18 years in prison.
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