Deirdre M. Daly, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Kenneth J. Croke, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the ATF Boston Field Division, today announced that a federal grand jury in Hartford has returned two indictments charging 16 individuals with federal narcotics offenses related to the distribution of crack cocaine and heroin in Connecticut.
This matter stems from a joint law enforcement investigation headed by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) into a narcotics trafficking operation headed by Luther Nance, also known as “Papers" and “Cash." The investigation, which included numerous controlled purchases of narcotics and physical surveillance, revealed that Nance and his associates allegedly sold crack cocaine and heroin in several communities throughout Connecticut utilizing multiple bases of operation, including a house on Carroll Road in East Hartford, the Sheldon Oaks housing complex in Hartford, and an apartment on Valley Street in Willimantic.
“I want to commend the excellent work of the ATF and all of our federal, state and local law enforcement partners who have participated in this successful investigation targeting drug distribution and related criminal activity in several communities across Connecticut," stated Acting U.S. Attorney Daly. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to using the full weight of federal law to prosecute narcotics traffickers to make our communities safer."
“ATF’s top priority is to combat violent crime and keep communities safe," stated ATF Acting Special Agent in Charge Croke. “The charges announced today are a prime example of what happens when ATF and our law enforcement partners work together - we successfully target, disarm and remove violent criminals from the neighborhoods in which they operate."
A 51-count superseding indictment, which was returned on June 27, charges the following 15 individuals with conspiring to distribute cocaine base (“crack cocaine"):
LUTHER NANCE, a.k.a. “Papers" and “Cash," 27, of Willimantic and Windsor
ANTOINE ARMOUR, a.k.a. “Slim," 22, of East Hartford
FABIAN AUGUSTINE, a.k.a. “J" and “Fabe," 23, of East Hartford
JAMES BROWN, a.k.a. “Decky," 23, of East Hartford
MORGAN GILL, a.k.a. “Teck," 23, of Hartford
MICHAEL GLENN, 29, of Wethersfield
KALONI GOODLEY, a.k.a. “Scrap," 22, of Hartford
LEESA GRANT, 21, of Hartford
ALONZO HAMILTON JR., a.k.a. “Al," 20, of Manchester
JAHMELL HARDING, 27, of Hartford
ANTHONY HARRINGTON, a.k.a. “Tone," 28, of Bloomfield
MONTRELL HUFF, 35, of Unionville
WANDA SOTO, 25, of Willimantic
TYKWELL WALTON, a.k.a. “Money," 20, of Hartford
RAYSHEQUIA WELLS, 20, of East Hartford
NANCE, ARMOUR, AUGUSTINE, BROWN, GILL, HAMILTON, SOTO and WALTON are charged with conspiring to distribute 280 grams or more of crack cocaine. If convicted of this charge, each defendant faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life. GLENN, GOODLEY, GRANT, HARDING, HARRINGTON, HUFF and WELLS are charged with conspiring to distribute 28 grams or more of crack cocaine. If convicted of this charge, each defendant faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years.
Each of the defendants, with the exception of BROWN, is also charged with at least one count of possession with intent to distribute narcotics. In addition, HARDING is charged with one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a narcotics trafficking crime and one count of possession of an unregistered short-barrel 12-gauge shotgun.
In a separate indictment, also returned on June 27, DAVID LYN, 32, of Hartford, is charged with five counts of possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, cocaine base.
Nance has been detained since his arrest on Feb. 13, 2013. The other defendants have also been arrested or are currently detained in state custody.
Acting U.S. Attorney Daly stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This matter is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney, the State’s Attorney for the Judicial District of Hartford, and the Hartford, Willimantic, East Hartford, Enfield and Middletown Police Departments.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Geoffrey M. Stone and Jonathan S. Freimann.
PUBLIC AFFAIRS
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
