New Britain man sentenced to 5 years in federal prison for trafficking cocaine

Date: May 29, 2026

Contact: [email protected]

David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that Jemuel Vega-Gomez of New Britain was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford to 60 months of imprisonment and four years of supervised release for trafficking cocaine.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in 2024, the FBI's Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force and New Britain Police Department investigated a drug trafficking organization, headed by Wilfredo Ortiz, that was operating out of Supreme Automotive, a car dealership located on Main Street in New Britain. The investigation included the use of court-authorized wiretaps, physical and electronic surveillance, and several controlled purchases of narcotics, primarily cocaine, from Ortiz and other members of the conspiracy. Vega-Gomez was identified during the investigation engaging in suspected narcotics trafficking activity.

Vega-Gomez, Ortiz, and several other members of the drug trafficking organization were arrested on Nov. 14, 2024. In association with the arrests, investigators conducted court authorized searches of Supreme Automotive and residences and other locations connected to the organization and seized more than five kilograms of cocaine, more than 200 grams of fentanyl, approximately 30 grams of heroin, a kilogram press, seven firearms, ammunition, approximately $75,000 in cash, and 26 vehicles. A search of Vega-Gomez's residence revealed more than two kilograms of cocaine, a .45 caliber handgun, two firearm magazines, ammunition, and approximately $14,500 in cash.

Vega-Gomez pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine. He has been detained since his arrest.

Ortiz pleaded guilty and, on March 9, 2026, was sentenced to 135 months of imprisonment.

This investigation has been conducted by the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation Division, the FBI's Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force, Homeland Security Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Connecticut State Police, the Connecticut Department of Correction, the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles Police, and the New Britain, Hartford, West Hartford, Waterbury, Naugatuck, East Hartford, Brookfield, Milford, Norwich, Orange, North Haven, Meriden, Berlin, and Manchester Police Departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Natasha Freismuth, Reed Durham, and David Nelson.

IRS-CI is the law enforcement arm of the IRS, responsible for conducting financial crime investigations, including tax fraud, narcotics trafficking, money laundering, public corruption, healthcare fraud, identity theft and more. It is the only federal law enforcement agency with investigative jurisdiction over violations of the Internal Revenue Code. IRS-CI has 18 field offices located across the U.S. and maintains an international presence through attaché posts abroad.