Newtown Man Among 34 Arrested In Federal

Drug Cases

BRIDGEPORT — A federal grand jury has returned two indictments charging a total of 34 people from the greater Bridgeport area with participating in a conspiracy to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine, and participating in a conspiracy to distribute heroin and crack cocaine.

On February 4, the 34 individuals charged in the indictments were arrested, according to a statement from Nora R. Dannehy, the Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Kimberly K. Mertz, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

A Newtown man was among those charged. He is Alex Rotas, age 23, according to the statement.

Rotas was charged in the indictment concerning a conspiracy to distribute heroin and crack cocaine throughout Bridgeport and Fairfield County between January 2008 and January 2009.

The indictments remain sealed pending the arrest of additional defendants.

The yearlong investigation included the use of court-authorized wiretaps, controlled purchases of cocaine, crack, and heroin, and also physical surveillance.

Ms Dannehy said that an indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Each defendant is entitled to a fair trial at which it is the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, she said.