New London — The owner of a New London restaurant was sentenced to five years in federal prison Tuesday for trafficking cocaine, according to a news release from Deirdre M. Daly, U.S. attorney for the District of Connecticut.

Paul Mott, 29, owner of the Caribbean American Kitchen to Go on Truman Street, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Alker Meyer in New Haven to 60 months in prison, followed by four years of supervised release.

Mott, of Groton, conspired with others to distribute cocaine in the summer of 2016, regularly taking orders for the drug and driving to a supplier in the Bronx, N.Y., the release said. He would return to Connecticut and then give the cocaine to his co-conspirators for further distribution, according to the release. Some of the trafficking activity occurred at his restaurant, the release said.

Police arrested Mott on Aug. 8, 2016, after he was found with approximately 319 grams of cocaine that he brought to southeastern Connecticut from New York. Investigators who searched a Groton hotel room where Mott lived found more cocaine and items used to process and package the drug, the release said.

Mott has been held since his arrest. On May 11, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess cocaine with intent to distribute 500 grams or more. As part of his sentence, he was ordered to forfeit a 2013 Toyota 4Runner and approximately $3,494 that was seized from him at the time of his arrest, the release said.

The FBI Northern Connecticut Safe Streets Task Force, Norwich Police Department, Waterford Police Department and Groton Town Police investigated the case.