Police: Bethel Man Arrested by Feds, May Be Responsible for Two Deaths

A Bethel man has been arrested by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) for New England and charged with cocaine and heroin distribution offenses.

According to a report from the U.S. Attorney's Office, 51-year-old Paul Mignani of Bethel had been charged as part of an ongoing statewide initiative targeting narcotics dealers who distribute heroin, fentantyl, or opiods that cause death or serious injury to users.

The report says that back in July of 2016, a 54-year-old Bethel woman died from an overdose from heroin that was she allegedly purchased from Paul Mignani. Then, on December 11, 2016, Bethel police and medical personnel responded to Mignani's home after a report of an unresponsive 25-year-old female was made. The federal DEA believes that her death was a result of drugs that Mignani allegedly provided.

The day after the unresponsive 25-year-old was found in his home (Dec. 12), Bethel's Paul Mignani was arrested after a court-authorized search turned up three ounces of cocaine.

Mignani has been charged by criminal complaint with intent to distribute, and distribution of, heroin and cocaine. He was ordered detained by U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah A. L. Merriam in New Haven.

U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Deirdre M. Daly, has stressed that a complaint is only a charge and that Paul Mignani is innocent until proven guilty.