William Caraballo, III, also known as "Wilo" and "Couzzo," has been sentenced to 12 years in federal prison for trafficking fentanyl. The sentence was delivered by U.S. District Judge Robert N. Chatigny in Hartford. Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, made the announcement.
Court documents reveal that between March and May 2020, an undercover officer purchased heroin/fentanyl from Cruz J. Bonilla. During the investigation, law enforcement identified Caraballo as Bonilla's supplier. It was discovered that Caraballo transported kilogram quantities of heroin/fentanyl from New York to southeastern Connecticut.
On June 6, 2020, investigators tracked Caraballo to the Bronx, New York. Upon his return to Connecticut, he was stopped by Connecticut State Police on I-95 North and found with approximately one kilogram of fentanyl in a heat-sealed bag. He was arrested on state charges at that time.
Caraballo has been detained since his federal arrest on October 6, 2020. On June 27, 2024, he pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.
His criminal history includes an assault conviction in 2002 for shooting an individual after a football game argument and a conviction for stabbing a relative in 2013. He also has previous drug convictions and other offenses.
Cruz J. Bonilla pleaded guilty on July 30, 2024, to possession with intent to distribute and distribution of a controlled substance. He admitted violating conditions of his supervised release from a prior federal conviction and is currently detained awaiting sentencing.
The investigation involved the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Connecticut State Police, and the Connecticut Statewide Narcotics Taskforce East. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Konstantin Lantsman and Natasha M. Freismuth.