United States Attorney's Office District of Connecticut
Press Release

NORWALK WOMAN ADMITS ROLE IN SOUTHWESTERN CONNECTICUT NARCOTICS DISTRIBUTION RING

Nora R. Dannehy, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that SASHA KOPPEL, 22, of Norwalk, pleaded guilty today before United States District Judge Mark R. Kravitz in New Haven to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base (“crack cocaine”).

On February 14, 2008, a federal grand jury returned a 30-count Indictment charging KOPPEL and 21 other individuals with various federal drug trafficking, firearm and witness tampering offenses related to the distribution of cocaine and crack cocaine in southwestern Connecticut.  According to documents filed with the Court and statements made in court, KOPPEL’s involvement in the conspiracy included distributing crack cocaine to customers and street-level dealers.

Judge Kravitz has scheduled sentencing for December 19, 2008, at which time KOPPEL faces a maximum term of imprisonment of life and a fine of up to $4,000,000.

This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Safe Streets Task Force, which is composed of members of federal and local law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, and the Norwalk, Bridgeport, Trumbull and Fairfield Police Departments.  The Stamford Police Department and the Connecticut State Police also assisted in the investigation.  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tracy Lee Dayton of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force.

CONTACT:

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