...to sell drugs because his out-of-control gambling addiction...

Popular Hartford Eatery's Co-Owner Gets Five Years For Drug Dealing
By EDMUND H. MAHONY, The Hartford Courant

One of the owners of the popular Maple Giant Grinder in the South End was sentenced to five years in prison after federal prosecutors said he was involved in the sale of as much as 28 pounds of cocaine.

Frank Puzzo's lawyers argued in court that he was forced to sell drugs because his out-of-control gambling addiction and his own drug use left him chronically in debt. They also said that Puzzo had an "extremely low range of intellectual functioning" that made him a candidate for leniency.

Federal prosecutors rejected the leniency pitch. They said that Puzzo, 37, most recently of East Hartford, had had enough intellectual capacity to become one of the city's top drug dealers.

"Many individuals boast of being kilo-weight traffickers or aspire to such status," the U.S. Attorney's office wrote in a sentencing memo filed in federal court. "Few actually have the wherewithal and means to get to that level. But, despite his low level of intellectual functioning, this defendant succeeded."

The government said the drug sales that led to Puzzo's arrest took place over about a year in 2009 and 2010 and sometimes involved transactions with a New Britain-based cocaine ring led by Steve Velez. The New Britain organization supplied cocaine to users in New Britain and Hartford, the prosecutors said.

Federal authorities said they seized 57 pounds of cocaine, 4.4 pounds of crack cocaine, $650,000 in cash, one firearm and several vehicles in connection with the arrests of Puzzo, Velez and 18 others.

Authorities said that Puzzo once paid Velez and a partner $66,000 for 4.4 pounds of cocaine. On other occasions they said that Puzzo indirectly supplied Velez and his partner with 13 pounds. Authorities said that a pound of cocaine substantially increases in volume as it moves down the distribution chain and is cut or adulterated with additives two or three times.

Both Puzzo and Velez pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 11 pounds or more of cocaine.

Velez was sentenced to 12 years in prison. Puzzo received a shorter sentence because he had no prior criminal record.