Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that KERRY SCANLAN, 20, of Avon, was arrested yesterday on a federal criminal complaint charging him distributing heroin involved in an overdose death of an 18-year-old in East Haddam. The charge stems from an ongoing statewide initiative targeting narcotics dealers who distribute heroin, fentanyl or opioids that cause death or serious injury to users.
Following his arrest, SCANLAN appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah A. L. Merriam in New Haven and was ordered detained.
As alleged in court documents, in the morning of March 19, 2016, Connecticut State Police and emergency medical personnel responded to a residence in East Haddam on the report of an “untimely death." The victim, an 18-year-old male, was pronounced dead at the scene. At the scene, State Police seized the victim’s cell phone and multiple glassine bags containing powder residue. The investigation revealed that SCANLAN arranged to purchase heroin from a source in Hartford. On March 18, 2016, the victim drove to Avon, picked up SCANLAN and then drove to Hartford to purchase heroin.
On April 4, 2016, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner issued a report listing the victim’s cause of death as “acute fentanyl intoxication."
U.S. Attorney Daly stressed that a complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This matter is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Connecticut State Police and the East Haddam Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas P. Morabito.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
