Middletown Man Charged In Bristol Area Drug Trafficking Ring; Several Overdose Deaths Connected

CONNECTICUT — A Middletown man is among 11 charged in connection with a Bristol area drug trafficking ring, a federal prosecutor said.

Several overdose deaths are connected to the case, he added.

David X. Sullivan, United States attorney for the District of Connecticut; Jarod Forget, special agent in charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England; and Bristol Police Chief Mark Morello Wednesday announced that the following 11 individuals have been charged with federal offenses stemming from a long-term investigation into narcotics trafficking in Bristol and elsewhere in central Connecticut:

• Joshua Ocasio, also known as "J" and "Jim," 30, of Middletown
• Jose Rosado-Ortiz, 29, of Manchester
• Ryan Jassor, 30, of Phoenix, AZ
• Debra Jankowski, 44, of Avon
• Tonu Risucci, 29, of Watertown
• James Warkoski, 58, of Plymouth
• Ryan Riback, 24, of Plainville
• Kyle Mastroianni, 32, of Bristol
• Robert Pinette, 39, of Bristol
• Griffin Deprey, 28, of Plainville
• Quran Muhammad, 30, of East Windsor

According to in court documents and statements made in court, the DEA New Haven Tactical Diversion Squad and the Bristol Police Department have been investigating a narcotics trafficking enterprise headed by Ocasio.

The investigation revealed that Ocasio, with the assistance of Rosado-Ortiz and Jassor, who formerly resided in Connecticut, acquired and distributed fentanyl, cocaine, crack-cocaine, counterfeit pills pressed with fentanyl, and pharmaceuticals including oxycodone, Adderall, and Xanax. Ocasio employed, and frequently rented vehicles for, Jankowski, Risucci, Warkoski, Riback, Mastroianni, Pinette, and Deprey as “drug runners” to conduct drug transactions on his behalf. Muhammad helped facilitate narcotics transactions for Ocasio and also distributed drugs that he acquired from Ocasio to his own customer base.

Court records show that the investigation has connected five overdose deaths in Bristol and one overdose death in Berlin, which occurred between April 2024 and May 2025, to Ocasio's drug trafficking network.

Ocasio and Rosado-Ortiz were arrested on a federal criminal complaints on Dec. 4. On that date, a search of Ocasio’s residence revealed approximately $440,000 in cash and watches and jewelry valued at approximately $270,000, court records say.

Sullivan said a search of Rosado-Ortiz’s residence revealed approximately 2 kilograms of cocaine, 1 kilogram of crack cocaine, 250 grams of fentanyl, 200 grams of methamphetamine, 2,500 oxycodone pills, 500 Xanax and Adderall pills, tabs of LSD, one ounce of ketamine, 25 empty kilogram wrappers that field tested positive for the presence of cocaine, an AR-15 style rifle, a ghost gun, $10,000 in jewelry, and $7,260 in cash.

On Jan. 7, a federal grand jury in Bridgeport returned an indictment charging each of the defendants with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, controlled substances.

Said Sullivan, "If convicted of this charge, based on the type and quantity of drug attributed to each defendant, Ocasio, Rosado-Ortiz, Risucci, Riback, and Mastroianni face a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life; Jankowski, Pinette, and Deprey face a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years; and Jassor, Warkoski, and Muhammad face a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years."

In addition, the indictment charges Ocasio with possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, fentanyl and cocaine resulting in death and serious bodily injury, an offense that carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 20 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life.

"This charge stems from the overdose death of a 20-year-old woman in Bristol on October 26, 2024," Sullivan said.

The indictment also charges Rosado-Ortiz with possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, which carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, which carries a mandatory consecutive term of imprisonment of at least five years.

The indictment seeks the forfeiture of the cash and jewelry seized on Dec. 4, 2025, $30,338 that was seized from Ocasio in February 2025, and multiple vehicles.

"As alleged, Joshua Ocasio operated a sophisticated drug trafficking network that, quite literally, destroyed lives in Bristol and surrounding communities in central Connecticut," Sullivan said. "I thank the members of the DEA New Haven Tactical Diversion Squad, the Bristol Police Department, and the many other police departments that have worked on this long-term investigation which resulted in dismantling this drug network and bringing Mr. Ocasio and his associates to justice. The U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners continue to target those who profit from the illegal distribution of fentanyl and other dangerous narcotics. This investigation clearly established an indisputable connection to a drug-related death that necessitates the charging of this 20-year mandatory minimum offense."

Said said DEA Special Agent Forget, "DEA is committed to investigating and dismantling large-scale poly drug trafficking organizations like this one operating throughout central Connecticut. This organization was allegedly responsible for the distribution of fentanyl, cocaine, crack cocaine, counterfeit pills laced with fentanyl and pharmaceuticals which can be linked to several overdose deaths in the state. This investigation demonstrates the strength of collaborative local, state and federal law enforcement efforts in Connecticut and our strong partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to seek and bring to justice anyone who engages in these crimes."

Chief Morello said, "The Bristol Police Department commends the DEA, every member of this Task Force, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their relentless pursuit of justice and their unwavering commitment to dismantling illicit drug trafficking networks,. These efforts hold accountable those whose actions poison our communities and contribute directly to loss of life. Because of this work, the City of Bristol and the State of Connecticut are safer. The Bristol Police Department remains resolute in its mission to protect and serve the community with integrity and professionalism, and we will continue these enforcement efforts every day to protect our community and save lives."