Federal Court in Hartford (Abraham Ribicoff Federal Building and United States Courthouse 450 Main St.). Federal officials say Eric Riettie, a Stamford man, was sentenced for 46 months in prison for trafficking narcotics in southwestern Connecticut.

In a release, U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut David Sullivan said Eric Riettie, a 27-year-old also known as "Gambino" and Lil E," was sentenced in federal court in Hartford on Monday to 46 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release for his involvement in a drug trafficking ring.

The FBI Bridgeport Safe Streets Task Force, which was investigating gang activity in the South End and West Side of Bridgeport, identified Christian Pichardo as a supplier of various narcotics to gang members and other drug distributors in 2022, according to Sullivan.

During the investigation, Sullivan said, investigators intercepted calls and text messages over court-authorized wiretaps between Pichardo and his associates. He said they also made controlled purchases of narcotics and seized drugs from members of the conspiracy and their drug customers.

Sullivan said some of the drugs seized during the investigation had been cut with fentanyl analogues, nitazines and xylazine. He said nitazines are synthetic opioids stronger than fentanyl, while xylazine is a large animal tranquilizer.

Pichardo supplied fentanyl and crack cocaine to Riettie, Sullivan said, adding Riettie sold to his own customers. He said Riettie sometimes supplied distribution quantities of narcotic pills to Pichardo.

Riettie was arrested on Aug. 6, 2024, and pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances late in 2025. Riettie is currently released on a $100,000 bond, but is required to report to prison on Sept. 4.

Sullivan said Pichardo pleaded guilty to a related charge and was sentenced to 12 years in prison in July of 2025.