Jorge Freytes, 36, of 158 Maple St., has reached a plea agreement with federal prosecutors to admit to his role in a cocaine trafficking operation. Court papers filed in federal court this week indicated his attorney has asked for a continuance for sentencing, which is expected sometime in May.

Freytes has agreed to plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine. Prosecutors, according to the plea deal documents, believe Freytes should receive a prison sentence of anywhere between nine years or just over 11.

Federal court documents indicate that, based on the deal reached, neither prosecutors nor Freytes’ attorney are barred from seeking a sentence outside this guideline range. However, court papers also indicate Freytes will be subject to a minimum, mandatory sentence of five years in prison. 

Freytes in 2019 was among multiple individuals arrested by federal officials in connection with a large drug trafficking operation in which about 30 pounds of cocaine were intercepted after being mailed from Puerto Rico to central Connecticut.

During that eight-month investigation, a DEA task force identified 60 pieces of mail, believed to contain cocaine, sent from Puerto Rico to central Connecticut and Worcester, Mass. Most of the packages, sent between April and December of 2018, had the same traits, such as listing phony return addresses and being addressed to names like “Roy Morales” and “Ricardo Morales,” according to the 59-page federal complaint.

Using federal search warrants, DEA members intercepted five packages containing a total of 14 kilograms of cocaine - about 30 pounds worth. Investigators conducted surveillance on the delivery of these packages.

Freytes, the 2019 complaint said, was seen doing counter-surveillance in the anticipation of four packages, on different occasions, being delivered. He also was seen trying to retrieve a package that contained cocaine, federal papers said.

Freytes was arrested again on state-level charges following a drug raid on Oct. 27 at his Maple Street apartment, according to local police.

Bristol police said members of the Narcotics Enforcement Team were joined by the DEA during the search, which took place around 7:15 a.m.

Following the search – which turned up 28.5 grams of cocaine, 97.7 grams of crack cocaine and 70 bags of Fentanyl – Freytes was arrested on two counts of sale of narcotics.

According to judicial records, Freytes is serving two different probations for as many convictions on sale of hallucinogen/narcotic charges. The convictions go back to offenses in 2015.

The sale of narcotics charges – stemming from the October raid – and the probation violation cases are still pending in New Britain Superior Court. Freytes on Tuesday appeared for a hearing, during which he pleaded not guilty to the narcotic charges and denied the violations. His case was continued until April 8. 

Justin Muszynski can be reached at 860-973-1809 or jmuszynski@bristolpress.com.