A federal grand jury in New Haven returned a superseding indictment on October 27 charging nine people with participating in a cocaine and crack cocaine distribution conspiracy. Federal officials allege that Michael Smith supplied a network of dealers operating across southeastern Connecticut.
The Connecticut defendants are Michael Smith, 53, of Lisbon, also known as “Miz”; Anthony Gomez, 46, of Norwich, known as “Jungle”; Deonna White, 48, of Norwich; Rocky Laurent, 48, of New London; Sarah Butler, 43, of Norwich; Heather Roy, 44, of Canterbury; Cordelia Harris, 49, of New London; and Keith Nival, 46, of New London. Robert Duran, 46, is from Mount Vernon, New York. The announcement was made by federal officials and reported by the Hartford Courant. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Connecticut, alleges Smith supplied cocaine and crack to dealers in the region.
Evidence and Alleged Transactions
According to federal officials, investigators used court-authorized wiretaps, video surveillance, GPS tracking and controlled narcotics purchases. They allege that Laurent, Butler, Roy, Harris and Nival bought cocaine and crack from Smith and resold the drugs in smaller quantities around the region.
Investigators say surveillance on October 8 at a Clinton parking lot captured Smith, White and Duran arriving in separate vehicles. In the federal account, Smith took a reusable shopping bag from White’s vehicle, drove elsewhere in the lot and handed the bag to Duran; Duran then allegedly put a box in Smith’s vehicle.
Authorities say a search connected to the encounter found 10 kilograms of cocaine in the box and more than $170,000 in the bag. Smith, White and Duran were arrested that day. Searches of two of Smith’s vehicles allegedly yielded packaged cocaine and crack in one vehicle, and a firearm with more than 200 rounds of ammunition in the other. Smith was additionally charged with unlawful possession of ammunition by a felon.
Arrests and Custody
Butler was arrested on October 8 after investigators allegedly found narcotics and drug-packaging materials at her residence in Norwich’s Taftville section. Gomez, Roy, Harris and Nival were arrested on October 15. Laurent has been in state custody since September 23, according to federal officials.
Officials said Smith, Gomez, Duran and Nival have been detained since their arrests. The investigation involved the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, with assistance from Connecticut State Police.
Potential Penalties and Forfeiture
Smith and Duran each face a charge of possessing five kilograms or more of cocaine with intent to distribute, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum of life in prison. Gomez faces three counts involving possession with intent to distribute and distribution of 28 grams or more of cocaine base; each carries a mandatory minimum of five years and a maximum of 40 years.
If convicted of conspiracy, Smith, Gomez, Duran, White and Laurent each face a mandatory minimum of 10 years and a maximum of life in prison. Butler, Harris and Roy each face a mandatory minimum of five years and a maximum of 40 years on the conspiracy charge; Nival faces up to 20 years. Smith’s ammunition charge carries a separate maximum of 15 years. The indictment also seeks forfeiture of $196,353 in cash and five vehicles seized during the investigation.
Overdose Data in Connecticut
According to the Connecticut Department of Public Health, cocaine was involved in 59.7% of unintentional and undetermined-intent overdose deaths statewide in 2024. The department also reported that New London County had Connecticut’s highest age-adjusted rate of unintentional and undetermined-intent drug overdose deaths that year. That county rate covers drug overdoses overall, not cocaine alone, and neither measure connects the deaths to the defendants or alleged network. The reported figures therefore do not provide a county-specific cocaine-involved death rate to compare with the statewide percentage.
