Terry Collins, 31, of Bristol, was sentenced to six years in federal prison for trafficking fentanyl and laundering money obtained through fraudulent claims to a COVID-19 relief program. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in New Haven. Collins will also serve four years of supervised release following his imprisonment.
According to court documents and statements made in court, law enforcement agencies began investigating narcotics trafficking activities in the Waterbury area in 2022. Agencies involved included the DEA New Haven Task Force, the DEA Tactical Diversion Squad, and the Waterbury Police Department. The investigation focused on Gawayne Fisher, also known as “Fruit” and “Tank,” who was allegedly distributing narcotics while on federal supervised release.
The investigation utilized wiretaps, surveillance, and controlled purchases to determine that Fisher and associates were distributing large quantities of fentanyl, cocaine, counterfeit oxycodone, and alprazolam (Xanax) pills. Authorities identified Collins as a supplier of fentanyl to Fisher’s organization and found that he maintained a location on Yale Street in Waterbury for storing and processing narcotics.
Collins, Fisher, and two others were arrested on April 13, 2023. Law enforcement seized drug-processing equipment, about three kilograms of loose fentanyl, and approximately 75,000 individual bags containing fentanyl from the Yale Street location. Additional searches at other locations tied to Fisher led to the discovery of more drugs and cash.
The case also revealed that Collins defrauded the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), which was created under the CARES Act by Congress to help small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. In May 2021, Collins submitted false information about his business Platinum Liquor’s payroll and employee count when applying for a PPP loan from the U.S. Small Business Administration. As a result of these misrepresentations—claiming 14 employees with an average monthly payroll of $59,612 when there was only one employee—Platinum Liquor received a $149,030 loan that was later forgiven after further false statements.
Collins pleaded guilty on October 2, 2024 to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and money laundering related to the PPP loan scheme. He is currently released on a $100,000 bond and must report to prison on October 28.
Judge Bolden will decide within 90 days how much restitution Collins must pay.
Fisher was previously sentenced on January 27, 2025 to over 18 years in prison for drug trafficking offenses and violating supervised release conditions from an earlier conviction.
The investigation involved multiple agencies including federal authorities such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation; U.S. Marshals Service; Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division; Connecticut State Police; as well as several local police departments across Connecticut.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Natasha M. Freismuth prosecuted this case through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program.
