Mexican Man Pleads Guilty To Distributing Cocaine In Connecticut

Wednesday, September 24, 2025, 11:55 A.M. ET. 2 Minute Read, By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,

NEW HAVEN, CT.- A 50-year-old Mexican national, last residing in New Haven, Connecticut, and currently in custody, will be facing up to 20 years in federal prison when sentenced later this year, after pleading guilty last Friday to a federal narcotics crime.

     According to U.S. Attorney David X. Sullivan, on Friday, September 19, 2024, Martin Onofre-Mendez, 50, of Mexico, formally of New Haven, Connecticut, appeared in the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut and pleaded guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance, Cocaine.

     Following entering his guilty plea, the Court accepted the plea and scheduled sentencing for December 12, 2025. At that time, Onofre-Mendez faces up to 20 years in federal prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $1 million. At sentencing, a U.S. District Court Judge will determine the term of imprisonment based on the seriousness of the offense and Onofre-Mendez’s prior criminal history. Upon completion of any sentence imposed, Onofre-Mendez will face immediate deportation proceedings and be removed from the United States.

According To The Charging Information Filed With The Court

     According to the charging information filed with the District Court, in 2024, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s New Haven Task Force learned that Onofre-Mendez was distributing illicit narcotics from a restaurant located on Grand Avenue in New Haven, Connecticut. 

     During a subsequent investigation, between May and September 2024, Investigators made multiple controlled buys totaling around 600 grams of cocaine from Onofre-Mendez. On October 1, 2024, following the controlled buys, Onofre-Mendez was taken into custody and charged. On that date, Investigators seized 225 grams of cocaine from Onofre-Mendez and an additional 480 grams of cocaine from a location where he used to store the illicit narcotics. Onofre-Mendez has remained in custody since his October 1, 2024.

     U.S. Attorney Sullivan commended the investigative work of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the New Haven Police Department, which led to the apprehension and Friday’s guilty plea by Onofre-Mendez.