U.S. Department of Justice

United States Attorney

District of Connecticut

PRESS RELEASE

February 13, 2009    

NORWALK MAN ADMITS ROLE IN SOUTHWESTERN CONNECTICUT NARCOTICS DISTRIBUTION RING

Nora R. Dannehy, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that DONDON FLETCHER, also known as “Yellow,” 33, of Norwalk, pleaded guilty today before United States District Judge Mark R. Kravitz in New Haven to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base (“crack cocaine”).

On February 14, 2008, a federal grand jury returned a 30-count Indictment charging FLETCHER and 21 other individuals with various federal drug trafficking, firearm and witness tampering offenses related to the distribution of cocaine and crack cocaine in southwestern Connecticut.  According to documents filed with the Court and statements made in court, FLETCHER was a narcotics dealer who received crack cocaine from higher-ranking members of the conspiracy and then re-packaged and distributed the crack to customers in and around the Carlton Court housing complex in Norwalk, and to other street-level dealers.

Judge Kravitz has scheduled sentencing for May 4, 2009, at which time FLETCHER faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years, a maximum term of imprisonment of life and a fine of up to $4,000,000.

FLETCHER has been detained in federal custody since his arrest on February 20, 2008.

This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Safe Streets Task Force, which is composed of members of federal and local law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, and the Norwalk, Bridgeport, Trumbull and Fairfield Police Departments.  The Stamford Police Department also assisted in the investigation.  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tracy Lee Dayton of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force.