Date: 05-22-2018

Case Style:

Case Number: 3:17-cr-00242-JAM

Judge: Jeffrey A. Meyer

Court: United States District Court for the District of Connecticut (New Haven County)

Plaintiff's Attorney: David X. Sullivan and Patrick F. Caruso

Defendant's Attorney: James Edward Sulick

Description: New Haven, CT - Windsor Locks Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug Trafficking and Money Laundering Offenses

Oscar Montoya, 62, of Windsor Locks, pleaded guilty on May 21, 2018 before U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer in New Haven to drug trafficking and money laundering offenses related to the distribution of heroin and various prescription medications.

According to court documents and statements made in court, beginning in approximately 1998, MONTOYA’s wife, Christina Miles, who is a retired nurse, illegally possessed, dispensed and sold prescription medication and other controlled substances. MONTOYA knew of Miles’ illegal activity and, at Miles’ direction, dispensed pills to at least one of Miles’ drug customers. MONTOYA also was aware that family members outside of Connecticut were mailing pills to Miles at their Windsor Locks residence, and that his wife was selling the pills for profit.

On August 4, 2016, members of the North Central Narcotics Task Force and the DEA conducted a court-authorized search of Miles and MONTOYA’s residence at 350 North Street in Windsor Locks and seized a large quantity of various prescription medications, approximately two pounds of marijuana, $10,093 in cash and more than $13,000 in gift cards. Miles and MONTOYA were arrested on state charges after the search.

The investigation revealed that, through this drug trafficking conspiracy, Miles and MONTOYA amassed more than $700,000 in a number of individual and jointly held bank accounts. The investigation also revealed that, in April 2017, Miles and MONTOYA used $17,359 of drug proceeds to purchase 11 U.S. Postal Service money orders and a bank cashier’s check payable to a New Jersey-based moving company for a planned move from Connecticut to New Mexico.

Miles and MONTOYA were arrested on federal charges on November 16, 2017. On February 2, 2018, another court-authorized search of their North Street residence revealed additional drug evidence and $41,904 in cash.

MONTOYA pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, heroin, oxymorphone, hydrocodone and alprazolam, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, and one count of engaging and attempting to engage in a monetary transaction affecting interstate commerce, involving criminally derived property of a value greater than $10,000, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.

In pleading guilty, MONTOYA agreed to forfeit his interest in the Windsor Locks residence and $767,056.74 seized from the residence and multiple bank accounts.

Judge Meyer scheduled sentencing for September 4, 2018. MONTOYA has been detained since his federal arrest.

Miles pleaded guilty to the same charges on May 15, 2018, and is detained while awaiting sentencing. She also has agreed to forfeit her interest in the Windsor Locks residence and the seized money.

This matter is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Tactical Diversion Squad and the U.S. Marshals Service with the valuable assistance of the North Central Narcotics Task Force and the Windsor Locks, Enfield, Vernon, East Windsor, Manchester and Suffield Police Departments.

Outcome: Guilty

Plaintiff's Experts:

Defendant's Experts:

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