U.S. Department of Justice

United States Attorney
District of Connecticut
Connecticut Financial Center
157 Church Street
New Haven, Connecticut   06510 www.usdoj.gov/usao/ct

CONTACT:
Tom Carson
Public Information Office
(203) 821-3722
(203) 996-1393 (cell)

PRESS RELEASE

March 25, 2009

BRIDGEPORT MAN SENTENCED TO FIVE YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON FOR CRACK DISTRIBUTION

Nora R. Dannehy, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that GARY P. SHARPE, 26, of Lincoln Avenue, Bridgeport, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Janet C. Hall in Bridgeport to 60 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release.  On December 30, 2008, SHARPE pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of cocaine base (“crack cocaine”).

According to documents filed with the Court and statements made in court, SHARPE was arrested on March 6, 2007, after he possessed more than five grams of crack cocaine and $400 in cash on his person.  The cash was “buy money” that had been prerecorded and used by law enforcement agents and officers in an undercover controlled purchase of crack from SHARPE’s co-defendant.

This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Connecticut State Police and the Bridgeport Police Department.  The case was prosecuted by Supervisory Assistant United States Attorney Alina P. Reynolds.