Two Men Charged With Marijuana Trafficking Offenses
HARTFORD, Conn. - John J. Arvanitis, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England and Deirdre M. Daly, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that a federal grand jury sitting in Hartford returned an indictment today charging Kevin J. Dunbar, 44, of Manchester, and Oves St. Orbin Wright, 56, of Massapequa, N.Y., with marijuana trafficking offenses.
According to allegations contained in court documents, on May 19, 2013, U.S. Customs and Border (CPB) agents in western Texas conducted a search of a tractor trailer and discovered approximately 315 pounds of (approximately 143 kilograms) secreted in a shipping crate. CBP agents contacted Drug Enforcement (DEA) agents in El Paso who determined that the crate was destined for a shipping facility in Enfield, Conn. On May 29, 2013, Connecticut DEA agents established surveillance at the Enfield shipping facility and observed Dunbar and Wright unpack the crate, load the contents into a van and travel to a storage facility in East Hartford, where they were arrested.
The indictment charges Dunbar and Wright with one count of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute 100 kilograms or more of marijuana, and one count of attempting to possess with the intent to distribute 100 kilograms or more of marijuana. Each charge carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years.
Dunbar and Wright have been detained since their arrests on May 29.
Acting U.S. Attorney Daly stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This matter is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, with the assistance of U.S. Customs and Border Patrol.
