New Haven man convicted for role in drug trafficking ring

Hartford, Connecticut – Kelvin Munoz, aka “Kel,” a 29-year-old New Haven resident, was sentenced to 52 months in prison for his involvement in a local drug deal. U.S. District Judge Sarala V. Nagala imposed the sentence today, which will be followed by three years of supervised release, announced U.S. Attorney Vanessa Roberts Avery.

The FBI's Safe Streets Task Force launched an investigation in June 2022 into a drug trafficking organization based in the Fair Haven neighborhood of New Haven. This extensive investigation used court-authorized wiretaps, physical surveillance and controlled buys to uncover the distribution of fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, crack cocaine and prescription pills by Munoz and his associates .

A significant moment in the investigation occurred on September 20, 2022, when Munoz and a co-defendant sold an .80 caliber polymer handgun, known as a “ghost gun,” along with ammunition and fentanyl, in a controlled purchase. Another controlled purchase, on March 9, 2023, involved approximately 48 grams of fentanyl from Munoz after he met with his state probation officer.

Munoz has been in custody since his arrest on state charges on August 23, 2023. He pleaded guilty to federal charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances on April 5, 2024.