A Stamford man involved in a southwestern Connecticut drug trafficking ring is headed to federal prison. Prosecutors said 27-year-old Eric Riettie was sentenced to 46 months in prison for distributing fentanyl and crack cocaine.

According to court documents and statements made in court, the case stems from a 2022 investigation by the FBI Bridgeport Safe Streets Task Force into gang activity in Bridgeport’s South End and West Side. During that investigation, agents identified Christian Pichardo as a supplier of various narcotics to gang members and other drug distributors.

Investigators intercepted calls and text messages through court-authorized wiretaps between Pichardo and his associates, made controlled drug purchases and seized narcotics from members of the conspiracy and their customers. Some of the drugs recovered had been cut with fentanyl analogues, nitazenes and xylazine, substances that significantly increase the risk of overdose. Nitazenes are synthetic opioids stronger than fentanyl, while xylazine is a powerful large-animal tranquilizer.

Riettie was linked to the broader operation and pleaded guilty last year. He is scheduled to report to prison in September.