Three individuals have been charged in connection with trafficking fentanyl and cocaine in the Naugatuck Valley following the return of a 10-count indictment by a federal grand jury in Hartford. The announcement was made by Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Marc H. Silverman, along with officials from the FBI and DEA.
The defendants, Keyshon Zimmerman of Stratford, Robert Smith, and Mahogany Pettway-Stokes, both of Ansonia, are accused of distributing narcotics, following an investigation by the FBI New Haven Transnational Organized Crime Task Force and the DEA's New Haven District Office Task Force.
According to court documents and statements, Zimmerman and Smith coordinated drug transactions using a shared phone. Throughout the investigation, multiple controlled purchases were made from the defendants between July 2024 and April 2025.
On April 23, the three individuals were arrested. During the arrest, Zimmerman was reportedly found attempting to dispose of fentanyl in a bathroom. Authorities seized a significant amount of unpackaged drugs, drug processing materials, firearms, and over $21,000 from Zimmerman's residence and two cars. The residence shared by Smith and Pettway-Stokes and an apartment in Derby also contained evidence related to drug processing.
The indictment includes charges of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute controlled substances. Zimmerman faces significant potential penalties, including a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison, while Smith and Pettway-Stokes face up to 20 years. Additionally, Zimmerman is charged with firearm offenses that could lead to further imprisonment.
Zimmerman and Smith remain detained, while Pettway-Stokes has been released on a bond. Silverman emphasized that the indictment is not proof of guilt, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven otherwise.
The case, prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey M. Stone, is part of Operation Take Back America, an initiative aimed at combating drug trafficking and protecting communities from violent crime.
