New London man to serve 5 years for role in drug network
A 34-year-old New London man who federal authorities say was part of a network that distributed crack cocaine throughout southeastern Connecticut and Westerly was sentenced Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Bridgeport to five years in prison followed by four years of supervised release.
Harry Stewart, also known as "P," has been incarcerated since Dec. 9, 2015, when he was arrested with crack cocaine and heroin packaged for sale, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. On Nov. 3, 2016, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute, and to possession with intent to distribute 28 grams or more of crack cocaine.
Stewart and others were arrested during a long-term investigation headed by the Connecticut State Police Statewide Narcotics Task Force - East and U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration into the large-scale distribution of narcotics in southeastern Connecticut.
The government said the investigation revealed that Sydney Jackson, also known as "Fatz," and others regularly acquired kilogram quantities of cocaine and heroin from sources in New York and transported the drugs to southeastern Connecticut. Much of the cocaine was converted to crack cocaine by Jackson, of New London, in Connecticut, and the drugs were distributed through a network of dealers, including Stewart, in Groton, Norwich, New London, Stonington, Westerly and the surrounding area.
Law enforcement officers conducted several controlled purchases of crack and heroin from Stewart. On Nov. 24, 2015, a federal grand jury in Hartford returned a 35-count superseding indictment charging Stewart, Jackson and 11 other defendants with various narcotics trafficking and firearm offenses. In addition, approximately 20 individuals were prosecuted on related state charges.
During the course of the investigation, investigators seized approximately 1.3 kilograms of cocaine, one kilogram of crack cocaine, 416 grams of heroin, five firearms and $53,500 in cash.
U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden ordered Stewart at his sentencing to forfeit $3,506 in cash that was seized from him during the investigation.
Jackson, was sentenced in February to 10 years in prison for conspiracy to distribute 280 grams or more of crack cocaine.
The case has been investigated by the Connecticut State Police Statewide Narcotics Task Force - East, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Marshals Service, Connecticut Department of Correction and Groton City, Groton Town, New London, Norwich and Waterford police departments.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dave Vatti and Joseph Vizcarrondo, with the assistance of Senior Assistant State's Attorneys Paul Narducci and David Smith of the State's Attorney's Office for the Judicial District of New London.
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