United States Attorney's Office District of Connecticut
Press Release

WEST HAVEN MAN CHARGED WITH IMPORTING HEROIN

Kevin J. O'Connor, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that LUIS ARTURO QUIROZ, also known at "RAUL CRUZ," age 25, of 760 Washington Avenue, Apartment A1, West Haven, Connecticut, has been indicted for importing and possessing heroin.

On August 6, 2004, federal agents from United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance provided by the West Haven Police Department, arrested QUIROZ at his residence in West Haven. At that time, QUIROZ accepted a package containing four pairs of women's shoes in which approximately one kilogram of heroin had been hidden before the package had been mailed from Venezuela.

Count One of the Indictment, returned yesterday, August 18, by a federal grand jury sitting in New Haven, charges QUIROZ with importing more than one kilogram of heroin into the United States from Venezuela. Count Two charges him with possessing that heroin with the intent to distribute.

If convicted of these charges, QUIROZ could be sentenced on each count to a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of ten years to a maximum of life, and fined up to $4,000,000 on each count.

U.S. Attorney O'Connor stressed that an indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is entitled to a fair trial at which it is the Government's burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

U.S. Attorney O'Connor commended the efforts of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, the United States Postal Inspectors and Drug Enforcement Administration agents, as well as the local police officers of the West Haven Police Department and other departments involved in the Statewide Narcotics Task Force who coordinated their efforts in this successful seizure of heroin.

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