John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that CHRISTOPHER STEVENS, 27, of East Lyme, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer in New Haven to 18 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for distributing heroin to an overdose victim.
This prosecution is part of 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, early in the morning of June 4, 2016, East Lyme Police and emergency medical personnel responded to a vehicle parked on the side of a road with its engine running and found a 25-year-old male slumped over dead in the driver’s seat, and a young child in the rear seat. Investigators also found a torn wax paper baggy in the man’s hand and several other baggies under his body.
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for the State of Connecticut subsequently determined that the victim died from acute heroin and fentanyl toxicities.
The investigation revealed that, shortly before he overdosed, the victim met STEVENS at STEVENS’ East Lyme residence, and STEVENS provided heroin to the victim at that time.
STEVENS was arrested on a federal criminal complaint on July 8, 2016. On May 11, 2017, he pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of heroin.
STEVENS who is released on a $50,000 bond, was ordered to report to prison on November 8.
This matter was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New Haven Task Force with the assistance of the East Lyme Police Department.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer R. Laraia.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
