Robert "Bobbo" Winston, 35, of New London, was sentenced Monday by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in Bridgeport to 28 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for distributing heroin as part of a regional drug trafficking ring.

Winston was one of 26 people indicted by a grand jury in Hartford in 2019 following a lengthy investigation into drug trafficking in southeastern Connecticut by federal, state and local police. The investigation included court-authorized wiretaps and controlled purchases and seizures of heroin, cocaine and crack cocaine, and firearms. 

The investigation revealed that Winston received heroin from a co-conspirator and distributed an estimated 60 to 80 grams of the drug to his own customers, according to court documents.

Winston has been held on an unrelated drug offense since Aug. 14, 2019. On June 4, 2020, Winston pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with the intent to distribute heroin.

The investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Connecticut Statewide Narcotics Taskforce East, Connecticut Department of Correction and the New London, Waterford, City of Groton and Stonington Police Departments.

 The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Natasha M. Freismuth.