FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
APRIL 9, 2008 
WWW.USDOJ.GOV

CRT
(202) 514-2008
TDD (202) 514-1888

MIDDLETOWN MAN SENTENCED TO FIVE YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON FOR DEALING CRACK COCAINE

Nora R. Dannehy, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that NORMAN DACOSTA, 27, of Ridgefield Drive, Middletown, Connecticut, was sentenced today by United States District Christopher F. Droney in Hartford to 60 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release, for distributing five grams or more of cocaine base ("crack cocaine"). DACOSTA pleaded guilty to the offense on August 28, 2007.

According to documents filed with the Court and statements made in court, on six different occasions in January and February 2007, while he was on state probation, DACOSTA sold various quantities of crack cocaine to a confidential informant and an undercover police officer. In total, DACOSTA sold between 20 and 35 grams of crack. In addition, at the time of his federal arrest on March 7, 2007, DACOSTA concealed a small quantity of crack in his buttocks, which was discovered during a routine search at the Department of Correction facility where he was being housed.

DACOSTA has been detained in federal custody since the time of his arrest.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Connecticut State Police, and the Middletown Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert M. Spector.