Branford Man, Woman, New Haven Man Face Drug Trafficking Charges: Feds

NEW HAVEN, CT — A federal grand jury in New Haven Wednesday returned an indictment charging a Branford man and woman and a New Haven man with fentanyl and cocaine trafficking offenses, according to federal prosecutors.

The charges against Ashley Cordova, 27, of Branford, Luis Rodriquez, 37, of Branford and Jermaine Monteeth, 35, of New Haven, were announced by U.S. Attorney for Connecticut Vanessa Roberts Avery. The FBI New Haven Safe Streets Gang Task Force was the lead on an investigation into a drug trafficking organization led by Rodriguez, Avery said.

The U.S. Attorney noted that, as alleged in court documents and statements made in court, between February and July 2024, investigators made more than 20 controlled purchases of narcotics, including fentanyl laced with xylazine, and cocaine, from Rodriguez, Monteeth, Cordova, and others.

Rodriguez, Monteeth, and Cordova were arrested on federal criminal complaints on July 12, Avery said. On that date, investigators conducted court-authorized searches of Rodriguez’s and Cordova’s Branford residence, and other locations, and seized more than $97,000 in cash, drug ledgers, scales, and additional items used to process and package narcotics, per the federal prosecutor.

On July 16, the grand jury returned a five-count indictment charging Rodriguez, Monteeth, and Cordova with conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, fentanyl and cocaine; each is also charged with two counts of possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, fentanyl. Each charge carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.

Rodriguez, Monteeth, and Cordova appeared Wednesday in New Haven federal court and entered pleas of not guilty. Rodriguez was held and Monteeth and Cordova posted $100,000 bonds and were released.

This case is being investigated by the FBI Safe Streets Gang Task Force, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the ATF, and the New Haven and East Haven police departments.

The Task Force includes members from the FBI, the Connecticut State Police, the Connecticut Department of Correction, and the New Haven, Milford, East Haven, and Wallingford Police Departments.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie T. Levick through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces Program. which "identifies, disrupts and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies."