U.S. Attorney Vanessa Roberts Avery | U.S. Department of Justice
Standford Smith, also known as "Pops," has been sentenced to 69 months in prison for narcotics distribution and firearm possession offenses. This decision was made by U.S. District Judge Alvin W. Thompson in Hartford, following Smith's violation of supervised release conditions after a previous federal conviction.
Smith, 35, from Hartford, had previously been sentenced in March 2021 to 55 months of imprisonment and four years of supervised release for his involvement in a gun trafficking ring and crack cocaine distribution. He was released from prison in February 2022.
On June 2, 2023, Smith was arrested by Hartford Police at a motel parking lot on West Service Road in Hartford. He was found with a loaded Ruger LCP Max .380 caliber firearm and more than 30 fentanyl pills, approximately 23 grams of crack cocaine, and a digital scale in his vehicle.
Federal law prohibits individuals with felony convictions from possessing firearms or ammunition that have traveled through interstate or foreign commerce.
Since his arrest, Smith has remained detained. On July 9, 2024, he pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine and fentanyl and unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. Consequently, Judge Thompson imposed a sentence comprising 57 months for the narcotics and firearm offenses and an additional consecutive 12 months for violating supervised release conditions.
The investigation leading to this sentencing involved the Hartford Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Patricia Stolfi Collins prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative aimed at reducing gun violence and other violent crimes through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and communities. The Justice Department enhanced this strategy in May 2021 by emphasizing trust-building within communities, supporting violence prevention organizations, prioritizing strategic enforcement actions, and evaluating outcomes.
For further details about Project Safe Neighborhoods, visit www.justice.gov/psn.
