John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that CALVIN VAUGHN, also known as “Squeaks," 35, of New Britain was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant in Hartford to 34 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for drug trafficking and firearm possession offenses.
This matter stems from a joint investigation headed by the DEA New Haven Task Force into a central Connecticut cocaine and crack cocaine trafficking ring. The investigation, which included the use of court-authorized wiretaps, controlled purchases of crack cocaine and seizures of cocaine and cash proceeds, revealed that Westley Northrup, also known as “Piff," operated a cocaine and crack cocaine trafficking ring while he was incarcerated in state custody at the Cheshire Correctional Institution. Northrup conspired with Carlos Roman, also known as “Frizz," of Middletown, to purchase cocaine from suppliers, including Omar Rivera of New Britain, convert some of the cocaine to crack cocaine, and then distribute crack and cocaine through a network of dealers, including Vaughn.
Vaughn and others involved in this narcotics trafficking conspiracy were arrested on July 26, 2017. On that date, investigators executed multiple search warrants and seized approximately seven kilograms of cocaine, several pounds of marijuana, four firearms, and nearly $100,000 in cash. One of the firearms was found in the bathroom of Vaughn’s New Britain residence.
Vaughn’s criminal history includes felony convictions for narcotics and weapon offenses.
Vaughn has been detained since his arrest. On June 20, 2018, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base (“crack"), and one count of possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon.
Northrup, Roman and Rivera pleaded guilty to related charges. On April 12, 2018, Roman was sentenced to 120 months of imprisonment. Northrup and Rivera await sentencing.
This matter has been investigated by the DEA New Haven Task Force, U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Middletown and New Britain Police Departments. The DEA New Haven Task Force includes participants from the U.S. Marshals Service, the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation Division, and the New Haven, Hamden, West Haven, North Haven, Branford, Ansonia, Meriden, Derby and Middletown Police Departments.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney H. Gordon Hall.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
