Gawayne Fisher, also known as "Fruit" and "Tank," was sentenced to 217 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in New Haven. The 49-year-old from Waterbury received this sentence for leading a large-scale drug trafficking operation while on federal supervised release.

Fisher's criminal history includes a previous sentence in August 2009 for cocaine trafficking offenses, which resulted in 10 years of imprisonment followed by eight years of supervised release. He was released from prison in February 2015.

In 2022, an investigation led by the DEA New Haven Task Force, alongside other law enforcement agencies, revealed that Fisher was involved in narcotics trafficking during his supervised release period. The investigation employed wiretaps, surveillance, and controlled purchases to uncover the sale of heroin, fentanyl, cocaine, counterfeit oxycodone, and alprazolam (Xanax) pills by Fisher and his associates.

Fisher was arrested on April 13, 2023, along with three associates. Searches conducted at various locations associated with him uncovered substantial quantities of drugs and cash. These included approximately 16 kilograms of cocaine and three kilograms of fentanyl at a West Main Street apartment used as a stash location; $175,110 in cash at his residence on Beverly Avenue; and additional drug-processing equipment and fentanyl at another stash location on Yale Street.

Since his arrest, Fisher has been detained. On January 11, 2024, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges related to distributing over 400 grams of fentanyl and five kilograms or more of cocaine and money laundering.

Judge Bolden imposed a sentence comprising two parts: one for the narcotics trafficking and money laundering offenses totaling 180 months and another consecutive term of 37 months for violating conditions of his supervised release.

The investigation involved multiple agencies including the DEA Tactical Diversion Squad and the Waterbury Police Department with support from several others such as the FBI and U.S. Marshals Service.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Natasha M. Freismuth is prosecuting this case under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program aimed at dismantling significant criminal organizations through coordinated efforts across different levels of law enforcement.

Further details about OCDETF can be accessed via https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.