United States Attorney's Office District of Connecticut
Press Release

Project Safe Neighborhoods: BRIDGEPORT FELON KNOWN AS "CRICKET" SENTENCED TO MORE THAN 12 YEARS ON FEDERAL DRUG CONVICTION

Kevin J. O'Connor, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that MANUEL ROSADO, also known as "Cricket," age 31, formerly of 74 Coggswell Street, Bridgeport, Connecticut, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Janet Bond Arterton in New Haven to 151 months of incarceration, followed by five years of supervised release, on his conviction for possession with intent to sell crack cocaine. ROSADO had four prior felony convictions for sale of narcotics and two prior felony convictions for assault, all of which enhanced the sentence imposed today.

U.S. Attorney O'Connor explained that ROSADO had been indicted on May 21, 2003 and charged with weapons possession and possession of cocaine base ("crack") with intent to distribute. On November 17, 2003, ROSADO pleaded guilty to the narcotics charge and admitted that at approximately 12:30 a.m. on December 20, 2002, he was standing on the corner of Stratford and Fifth Avenue in front of a variety store. When officers from the Bridgeport Police Department's Tactical Narcotics Team approached the corner, ROSADO pushed through a crowd of people and went into the store. A TNT officer followed ROSADO and observed him drop, among other things, a large plastic bag containing 19 smaller baggies of crack cocaine. ROSADO admitted that he had possessed the crack cocaine with the intent to distribute it. According to statements made by the Government in court during previous court proceedings, a TNT officer also observed ROSADO discard a black leather pouch, which was subsequently discovered to contain a loaded Taurus 9 millimeter handgun. A spare magazine loaded with 9 millimeter bullets was found in ROSADO's pocket.

This matter was investigated by the Bridgeport Police Department's Tactical Narcotics Team and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert M. Spector.

"This prosecution, like so many others under the Project Safe Neighborhoods Initiative, has resulted in removing a very dangerous individual from the streets of Bridgeport, making the community a safer place to live," U.S. Attorney O'Connor stated. "Mr. Rosado was well-known on the east side of Bridgeport, and his 12 ½ year sentence should send the message that drug dealing while in possession of a firearm carries with it a significant federal penalty."

The Project Safe Neighborhoods Initiative is aimed at reducing gun violence, deterring illegal possession of guns, and improving the safety of residents in Connecticut's cities. Participants in the initiative include community members and organizations as well as federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. More information on the nationwide Project Safe Neighborhoods Initiative can be found at www.psn.gov.

CONTACT:

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