A Connecticut man will spend six years in federal prison after prosecutors said he was caught with fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine pills shaped like Mario characters that could be mistaken for candy.
Ronnell Rogers, 33, of New Haven, was sentenced May 11 in Bridgeport federal court to 72 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release.
Rogers was arrested by New Haven police on May 2, 2024, during a traffic stop that followed a controlled fentanyl purchase, according to the US Attorney’s Office.
He allegedly possessed fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin packaged for distribution at the time of his arrest.
Federal authorities said some of the methamphetamine pills were shaped like cartoon characters, including Mario from the Super Mario Bros. franchise, and “could be mistaken for candy.”
The arrest came just weeks after Rogers was released from federal prison and began serving supervised release tied to prior federal narcotics and firearm convictions, according to court documents.
Rogers had previously been sentenced in January 2022 to prison for narcotics distribution and firearm possession offenses, as well as violating supervised release connected to an earlier federal conviction for unlawful possession of ammunition by a felon.
US District Judge Kari Dooley sentenced Rogers to 63 months in prison for the narcotics offense and an additional nine months for violating supervised release.
Rogers has remained in federal custody since May 2024 after his supervised release was revoked. He pleaded guilty in October 2025 to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and distribution of fentanyl.
