Marc H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced the sentencing of Ovidalis Jiminez Pujols, a 39-year-old Dominican national. Jiminez Pujols was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Vernon D. Oliver in Hartford to 48 months in federal prison for his involvement in a fentanyl trafficking offense.
Court documents reveal that in February 2023, the Drug Enforcement Administration coordinated a controlled purchase of two kilograms of fentanyl from a narcotics supplier with distribution networks across the northeastern U.S. Jiminez Pujols and co-defendant Winifer Acosta Jiminez were apprehended on February 22, 2023, after transporting the drugs from New York to Milford, Connecticut.
Jiminez Pujols has been in custody since his arrest on February 22, 2023. He pleaded guilty on November 26, 2024, to charges of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute at least 40 grams of fentanyl. Upon completing his prison sentence, he will face immigration proceedings.
Co-defendant Acosta Jiminez was released on a $100,000 bond following her federal arrest on January 31, 2024. She removed her GPS monitoring device and fled on July 31, 2024. Law enforcement is actively searching for her.
Acting U.S. Attorney Silverman emphasized that "an indictment is not evidence of guilt," adding that "charges are only allegations" and defendants are "presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt."
The investigation into this matter involves the Drug Enforcement Administration with assistance from the Connecticut State Police and West Haven Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephanie T. Levick and Nathan J. Guevremont under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program.
OCDETF aims to identify and dismantle drug traffickers and other criminal organizations through collaboration between federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.