United States Attorney's Office District of Connecticut
Press Release

GRAND JURY INDICTS THREE ON FEDERAL DRUG CHARGES

Kevin J. O'Connor, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that a federal grand jury sitting in New Haven today indicted three men on conspiracy and cocaine possession charges.

The Indictment charges RANDALL REDD, age 33, of Apartment 2G, 680 Mix Avenue, Hamden, Connecticut; ANSON McPHAIL, age 28, of the Blue Cliff Apartments, Apartment 39, 7 Mountain Ridge Terrace, New Haven, Connecticut; and DENNIS RODRIGUEZ, age 33, of 395 Main Avenue, Passaic, New Jersey, with one count of conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute and to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine, one count of possession with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine, and one count of using a cellular telephone to facilitate a drug trafficking offense.

If convicted, the defendants could be sentenced to serve a mandatory minimum term of 10 years and up to a maximum term of life imprisonment, and a fine of up to $4,000,000 on both the conspiracy and the possession counts. If convicted on the telephone count, they could be sentenced to a maximum of four years imprisonment and fined up to $250,000.

In addition to the drug charges, RODRIGUEZ was also charged with possessing a 9-mm semi-automatic pistol in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. If convicted, he could be sentenced to an additional mandatory minimum of five years, which would have to be served consecutively to any sentence imposed on the drug charges.

The defendants were arrested on February 24, 2004, by agents and officers of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Safe Streets Task Force after RODRIGUEZ traveled to Connecticut from New Jersey to deliver a kilogram of cocaine to REDD and McPHAIL. Both REDD and McPHAIL have been detained without bond by United States Magistrate Judge Joan G. Margolis. RODRIGUEZ has since been released on a $250,000 bond.

In announcing the indictment, U.S. Attorney O'Connor stressed that an indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Each defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the Government's burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Mr. O'Connor commended the agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the officers assigned to the Safe Streets Task Force for their investigative efforts in this case. "The cooperation of federal agents and local police department officers continues to result in the successful investigation and apprehension of those who elect to deal drugs and harm our communities," U.S. Attorney O'Connor stated.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael E. Runowicz.

CONTACT:

U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
Tom Carson
(203) 821-3722
thomas.carson@usdoj.gov