Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ANTHONY DONES, also known as “Ant," 41, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer in New Haven to 36 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for distributing fentanyl and unlawfully possessing a firearm.
According to court documents and statements made in court, this matter stems from an investigation conducted by the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force and Hartford Police Department into drug trafficking and related criminal acts being committed by members and associates of the Los Solidos and Latin Kings street gangs in Hartford’s South End. Between January and April 2020, investigators conducted multiple controlled purchases of fentanyl from Dones and his associate, Juan Laureano, in the vicinity of Dones’ Montrose Street residence.
Dones and Laureano were arrested on April 8, 2020. When investigators arrived at Dones’ residence on that date, they found that Dones had just flushed an unknown quantity of fentanyl down the toilet. A search of Dones’ residence revealed that he was using his basement to process and package fentanyl for street sale. The search revealed a small quantity of fentanyl, narcotics processing materials, and a loaded.45 caliber pistol.
On March 15, 2022, Dones pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and distribution, of fentanyl, and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.
Dones, who had been released on bond, was remanded to custody at the conclusion of today’s court proceeding.
Laureano, of Hartford, pleaded guilty and, on March 30, 2022, was sentenced to 18 months of imprisonment.
This investigation was conducted by the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force and the Hartford Police Department. The FBI Task Force includes members of the Hartford Police Department, East Hartford Police Department, New Britain Police Department, West Hartford Police Department, Connecticut State Police and Connecticut Department of Correction. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian P. Leaming.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
