Wallingford Men Charged With Trafficking Fentanyl: Feds

WALLINGFORD, CT — Two Wallingford men face federal drug charges in connection with trafficking fentanyl, according to officials.

A federal grand jury in New Haven returned an indictment Wednesday charging Alexander Garcia, 28, and Daniel Vargas, 27, both of Wallingford, with conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, U.S. Attorney for Connecticut Vanessa Roberts Avery announced in a news release.

Authorities said the FBI New Haven Safe Streets Gang Task Force initiated an investigation in August into a drug trafficking organization led by Garcia and Vargas, who were sometimes called “Drake and Josh” or “Mikey and Tony.”

“Between August and November 2024, investigators made several controlled purchases of fentanyl from Garcia and Vargas,” officials wrote in a news release. “Completed laboratory analysis of some of the purchased fentanyl revealed the presence of xylazine.”

Garcia and Vargas were arrested on criminal complaints on Nov. 13. Authorities searched their home on Lee Avenue in Wallingford on Nov. 13 and found a firearm and more than $29,000 in cash, according to officials. They have been detained since their arrests.

The charge of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, according to officials.