Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that AURELLE HUCKABEE, 22, of Waterbury, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Alvin W. Thompson in Hartford to 27 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for distributing fentanyl to an overdose victim. This matter stems from an ongoing statewide initiative targeting narcotics dealers who distribute heroin, fentanyl or opioids that cause death or serious injury to users.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in the early morning of July 7, 2016, Naugatuck Police and emergency medical personnel responded to a Naugatuck residence on a report of a suspected overdose. The victim, a 31-year-old male, was transported to the hospital where he was pronounced deceased. Investigators seized two bags of suspected heroin and/or fentanyl, as well as the victim’s cellphone, from the scene.
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner subsequently determined that the victim died as a result of “acute fentanyl intoxication."
The victim’s cellphone contained hundreds of text messages between the victim and HUCKABEE. The text messages revealed that HUCKABEE regularly supplied heroin to the victim in the weeks preceding the victim’s death.
HUCKABEE has been detained since his arrest on January 4, 2017. On March 9, 2017, he pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of heroin.
This matter was investigated by the DEA’s New Haven Tactical Diversion Squad and the Naugatuck Police Department. The Tactical Diversion Squad includes participants from the New Haven, Hamden, Greenwich, Shelton, Bristol, Vernon, Wilton, Milford, Monroe and Fairfield Police Departments, and the Connecticut State Police.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick F. Caruso.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
