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Erick Crespo-Escalante, 49, of Arizona, has been sentenced to 30 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release for transporting fentanyl to Connecticut, U.S. Attorney John Durham said.
On Dec. 21, 2016, police in Derby stopped Crespo-Escalante on Route 34 for a violation. During a search of the cab of the tractor-trailer, officers found a box that contained 25 kilograms of fentanyl and Crespo-Escalante was placed under arrest.
According to Durham, the investigation determined that Crespo-Escalante was transporting the shipment of fentanyl on behalf of his associate, Omar Villarreal, from California to a location in Waterbury.
Crespo-Escalante has been detained since his arrest. On April 4, 2017, he pleaded guilty of one count of conspiracy with intent to distribute and to distribute fentanyl. When Crespo-Escalante is released from prison, he will face immigration proceedings. Durham noted that Crespo-Escalante is a lawful permanent resident of the United States.
Durham said that Villarreal, of La Puente, California, has been detained since his arrest on May 15, 2017. On Aug 30, last year, he pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and abetting the possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute, and one count of traveling in interstate commerce to promote an unlawful activity. He is scheduled to be sentenced on May 8.
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