An East Hartford man, Warren Simpson, known as "Wodi," has pleaded guilty to federal drug trafficking and gun possession charges in Bridgeport. The plea was made before U.S. District Judge Sarah F. Russell, as confirmed by Marc H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF Boston Field Division.
Court documents reveal that ATF agents conducted several controlled buys of cocaine from Simpson in Hartford during July and August 2024. On September 12, 2024, agents approached Simpson's East Hartford home on Judson Avenue with a search warrant. Simpson attempted to escape, discarding bags containing narcotics during his flight. The agents apprehended him and retrieved the bags. A subsequent search of his residence, vehicle, and the discarded bags uncovered approximately 248 grams of fentanyl, 690 grams of cocaine, drug processing materials, a .40 caliber Smith & Wesson pistol, and ammunition.
Simpson has a criminal history that includes felony convictions in Connecticut for narcotics possession, larceny, and criminal possession of a firearm. Federal law prohibits a person with previous felony convictions from possessing firearms or ammunition that have traveled through interstate or foreign commerce.
Simpson pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and 500 grams or more of cocaine. This charge carries a mandatory minimum prison sentence of five years, with a maximum of 40 years. He also pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, which carries a maximum sentence of 15 years.
Currently, Simpson is released on a $200,000 bond, with sentencing yet to be scheduled. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is investigating the case, which is prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean P. Mahard.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative by the Department of Justice aimed at reducing violent crime through evidence-based strategies. PSN focuses enforcement on violent offenders and collaborates with local prevention and reentry programs to reduce crime sustainably.
