Lebanon man gets 10 years for cocaine trafficking

Timothy Sczurek of Lebanon has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison and 10 years probation for cocaine trafficking following an investigation that involved local, state and federal authorities and the use of court-authorized wiretapping.

    Sczurek, 31, had pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine.

        According to the U.S. attorney’s office, the Drug Enforcement Agency led an investigation that included controlled purchases of cocaine from Sczurek and court-authorized wiretaps of phones used by Sczurek and others.  He was arrested on June 25, 2007, at which time law enforcement executed search warrants and seized narcotics and more than $14,000 in cash from his home and storage facilities he utilized.

   While he was incarcerated, investigators became aware that he still had control of nearly five kilograms of cocaine that he had hidden in a storage facility and was planning to deliver to a third person through Marie Benson, the mother of his child.  On Aug. 23, 2007, Benson was arrested while delivering the cocaine at Sczurek’s direction. She was sentenced in May 2008 to approximately nine months in prison.

          This matter was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division; the Connecticut State Police; and the Norwich, New London, City of Groton, Town of Groton, Waterford, Stonington and Willimantic Police Departments.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Anthony E. Kaplan and John H. Durham, and Special Assistant United States Attorney Paul Narducci of the New London State's Attorney’s Office.