United States Attorney's Office District of Connecticut
Press Release

February 29, 2008

MIDDLETOWN MAN SENTENCED FOR ROLE IN CRACK DISTRIBUTION RING

Kevin J. O’Connor, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that KENNETH WILSON, 42, of Lyman Road, Middletown, was today by United States District Judge Christopher F. Droney in Hartford to approximately nine months of imprisonment, time already served, followed by three years of supervised release.  On September 25, 2007, WILSON pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute cocaine base (“crack cocaine”).

The charge against WILSON stems from a six-month investigation by the Northern Connecticut Violent Crimes Task Force that included the use of a variety of investigative techniques including controlled purchases of crack cocaine, federal wiretaps over a two-month period and physical surveillance.  The investigation followed an increase in drug trafficking activity and associated violence in the vicinity of Capen and Tolland Streets in Hartford.  To date, this ongoing investigation has resulted in the indictment of 13 defendants on federal narcotics and firearms charges.  Search and seizure warrants executed during the investigation have resulted in the seizure of seven firearms, significant quantities of powder cocaine and crack cocaine, narcotics paraphernalia, approximately $20,000 in cash, and six vehicles utilized in furtherance of drug trafficking activities.

According to documents filed with the Court and statements made in Court, WILSON was intercepted during the wiretap phase of the investigation negotiating the purchase of crack cocaine.  On March 2, 2007, WILSON was arrested by Hartford police officers and found in possession of approximately three grams of crack cocaine.  WILSON has been detained in federal custody since June 7, 2007.

U.S. Attorney O’Connor commended the investigation of this matter that was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Hartford Police Department, the Bloomfield Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the East Hartford Police Department, and the Mid-State Narcotics Task Force.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Edward Kang.

CONTACT:

U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
Tom Carson
(203) 821-3722
thomas.carson@usdoj.gov