United States Attorney's Office District of Connecticut
Press Release

BRIDGEPORT CRACK DEALER PLEADS GUILTY DURING TRIAL

Kevin J. O’Connor, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that DENNIS BROADNAX, also known as “Beagle” and “Sato,” 39, of Glen Circle, Bridgeport, pleaded guilty yesterday, January 22, before United States District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base (“crack cocaine”), and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering.  BROADNAX entered his pleas of guilty on the fifth day of a trial in this matter.

According to documents filed with the court and evidence presented during the trial, between May 2005 and September 2006, BROADNAX headed a large crack cocaine distribution network in and around Bridgeport.  BROADNAX conspired with Luis Mojica to use Mojica’s Bridgeport apartment to store kilogram quantities of cocaine that BROADNAX had acquired.  BROADNAX also used the apartment to “cook” the cocaine into crack cocaine.  According to testimony presented during the trial, BROADNAX converted at least one kilogram, and sometimes multiple kilograms, of cocaine into crack cocaine, each week.

BROADNAX also conspired with Mark Lutz of Bridgeport to launder the proceeds of his criminal activity.  Specifically, in December 2005, BROADNAX provided Mark Lutz with $55,000 in order to purchase a 2006 Mercedes Benz for BROADNAX in Lutz’ name. In early January 2006, Lutz made several structured deposits of the cash into both his personal bank account and the bank account of his business, Beach Club Tanning Salon.  On January 6, 2006, Lutz purchased a bank check from his personal account in the amount of $21,176 and a bank check from his business account in the amount of $24,000, both made payable to Mercedes Benz of Fairfield.  Lutz then purchased the car, provided it to BROADNAX, and kept $5000 of the cash that BROADNAX had given him.

During the trial, the Government also presented evidence that BROADNAX had no legitimate income from 2000 to 2006.

Judge Underhill has scheduled sentencing for April 11, 2008, at which time BROADNAX faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 20 years and a maximum term of life.  BROADNAX also has agreed to forfeit to the Government the 2006 Mercedes, a 2007 Toyota Camry, a 61-inch projection flat screen television, jewelry, and more than $10,000 in cash that was seized from his residence.

BROADNAX has been detained since his arrest on October 13, 2006.

Lutz and Mojica have pleaded guilty to related charges and await sentencing.

CONTACT:

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