Crime Correspondent: Luis "Louie Lou" Ojeda

Luis "Louie Lou" Ojeda, called a large-scale cocaine trafficker

Luis "Louie Lou" Ojeda, called a large-scale cocaine trafficker by federal officials and a stellar landlord and family man by his supporters, was sentenced Wednesday to 12½ years in federal prison and five years supervised release. Chief U.S. District Judge Alvin W. Thompson also ordered Ojeda to forfeit $19,309 in cash that was seized from him. A jury had found Ojeda guilty in October of conspiring to possess with intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine, and possessing with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine. He has been held in federal custody since his conviction. Ojeda was a target of a federal, state and local investigation, led by the Drug Enforcement Administration, into cocaine trafficking in eastern Connecticut. Investigators used surveillance, controlled purchases of cocaine, GPS tracking devices and court-authorized wiretaps to build their case. They seized 9 kilograms of cocaine and more than $35,000 in cash. The investigation revealed that Ojeda purchased more than 20 kilograms of cocaine over a period of several years from co-defendant Anthony Morse of Gales Ferry, which he sold to customers. Near the end of the conspiracy, when Morse was having trouble procuring cocaine from his sources, Morse began to obtain cocaine through Ojeda, who had alternate sources of supply. Ojeda faced a mandatory minimum prison term of at least 10 years. New London prosecutor Paul J. Narducci, who is cross-deputized as a special assistant U.S. attorney, argued that Ojeda had put "a lot of cocaine into the streets of New London." Gambling records seized from the area's two casinos indicated that Ojeda had spent $1.7 million at Foxwoods Resort Casino between 2001 and 2007 and $1.3 million at Mohegan Sun during the same time period. Ojeda's attorney, Jonathan Einhorn, asked for a reduction in the sentence, arguing that Ojeda was not a drug dealer of the same caliber of others convicted of the same offenses. He said Ojeda was a legitimate contractor who had rehabilitated several New London properties to provide safe and affordable housing for low-income families. Ojeda's family members asked the judge for mercy, and Ojeda also spoke at length. He apologized for embarrassing his family and vowed to improve himself in prison. "I will find a way to better myself and get back to my family a better man," he said. Following Ojeda's conviction, Morse pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, 5 kilograms or more of cocaine. He was sentenced on Jan. 10 to 6 years of imprisonment, followed by 10 years of supervised release

Luis "Louie Lou" Ojeda, called a large-scale cocaine trafficker

Luis "Louie Lou" Ojeda, called a large-scale cocaine trafficker by federal officials and a stellar landlord and family man by his...