A 36-year-old West Hartford man was found guilty Thursday in a case involving heroin trafficking.

By Ronni Newton

Dwayne Thompson of West Hartford was found guilty Thursday of several heroin trafficking offenses, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced.

Thompson, 37, and his associate, Jose Carrasquillo, 36, of Wethersfield, were looking to acquire heroin that they planned to distribute in July 2017 according to information that had been developed by the Drug Enforcement Agency’s Hartford Task Force. According to officials, they had agreed to purchase three kilograms, for $42,000 per kilogram, from an undercover law enforcement officer posing as a supplier.

The transaction was scheduled for a site in South Windsor on Aug. 22, 2017, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said, and Thompson and Carrasquillo arrived in separate cars. At the site a law enforcement officer arrested Thompson, who was found in possession of a firearm and $126,000 cash.

Carrasquillo sped away from the scene, but surrendered to law enforcement two days later, officials said.

Thompson was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin, and one count of attempt to possess with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin. He had been free on bond but was taken into custody Thursday.

Thompson will be sentenced on Sept. 9 and faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum term of life imprisonment.

Carrasquillo, who pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin, has been released on $150,000 bond and will be sentenced on Sept. 13.