New London Man Charged With Cocaine Distribution, Firearm Possession: Feds

NEW LONDON, CT — A New London man was charged in court this week with cocaine distribution and firearm possession offenses, court officials announced Friday.

In a news release, U.S. Attorney for Connecticut Vanessa Roberts Avery and Stephen Belleau, acting special agent in charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England, said a federal grand jury in Bridgeport returned the indictment on July 2.

Luis Oliver-Garcia, 34, of New London, appeared Thursday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Maria Garcia in New Haven and pleaded not guilty to the charges. He has been detained since his arrest on June 21, according to Avery and Belleau.

As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, the Drug Enforcement Administration's Hartford Task Force identified Oliver-Garcia, also known as "Bebo," as a large scale distributor of cocaine.

The investigation revealed Oliver-Garcia rented a storage unit at a facility on Cross Road in Waterford to store narcotics and other items, Avery and Belleau said.

On June 21, Oliver-Garcia arrived at the storage facility shortly before investigators were about to conduct a court-authorized search of his storage unit, according to Avery and Belleau.

Oliver-Garcia was arrested after the search revealed more than three kilograms of cocaine, approximately $30,000 in cash and a 9mm firearm. A search of the car he drove to the facility also revealed an additional quantity of cocaine and two boxes of 9mm ammunition, according to Avery and Belleau.

According to Avery and Belleau, it is alleged that Ortiz-Garcia's criminal history includes state convictions for felony drug distribution and weapon possession offenses.

It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce, Avery and Belleau said.

The indictment charges Oliver-Garcia with possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, which carries a mandatory minimum prison term of five years and a maximum prison term of 40 years, unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon, which carries a maximum prison term of 15 years, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, which carries a mandatory consecutive prison term of at least five years, according to Avery and Belleau.