Norwalk Man Accused Of Drug Trafficking Sentenced To Over 15 Years In Prison: Feds

NORWALK, CT — A Norwalk man accused of drug trafficking in and around the city and unlawfully possessing a firearm was sentenced to more than 15 months in prison Thursday, according to an announcement from United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut David X. Sullivan.

In a news release, Sullivan said Jose Orjuela, also known as "Hov," 37, of Norwalk, was sentenced by a judge in Hartford to 188 months of imprisonment and five years of supervised release.

According to court documents and statements made in court, the Drug Enforcement Administration's Bridgeport High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force and Norwalk police identified Orjuela as the leader of a drug trafficking organization that distributed large quantities of fentanyl, heroin and cocaine in the Norwalk area.

Sullivan said the investigation, which included court-authorized wiretaps and controlled purchases of narcotics, revealed Orjuela and others transported kilogram-quantities of cocaine from Texas and Ohio and kilogram-quantities of fentanyl and heroin from New York City, then distributed the narcotics in and around Norwalk through a network of associates.

According to Sullivan, Orjuela stored narcotics and drug proceeds at his Norwalk home and also used the Darien home of an accused co-conspirator to store narcotics and drug proceeds, convert cocaine into crack cocaine and package narcotics for street sale.

Orjuela and others were arrested on April 29, 2024, Sullivan said.

In association with the arrests, investigators executed multiple federal search warrants and seized approximately 15,000 dose bags of suspected fentanyl, approximately 350 grams of raw heroin and quantities of cocaine and crack cocaine, according to Sullivan.

Sullivan said Orjuela was arrested while trying to flush several hundred grams of fentanyl down a toilet.

A loaded 9mm pistol was found during a search of a vehicle parked outside his home, according to Sullivan.

Orjuela, who has been detained since his arrest, pleaded guilty on April 30, 2025, to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, 500 grams or more of cocaine, and a quantity of heroin, and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, according to Sullivan.