United States Drug Enforcement Administration

HARTFORD, Conn. - Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that MAICO TURELL, 49, of Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Omar A. Williams in Hartford  to 30 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for fentanyl distribution and firearm possession offenses.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in December 2020, law enforcement made two controlled purchases of distribution quantities of heroin/fentanyl from Turell at his Franklin Avenue residence.  On December 22, 2020, a court-authorized search of Turell’s residence revealed a loaded 9mm semiautomatic firearm, a 9mm magazine and additional 9mm ammunition, and $17,980 in cash.  Turell arrived at his home after the search was completed, and a search of his person revealed approximately 250 bags of heroin/fentanyl.

Turell was arrested on a federal criminal complaint on February 3, 2021.  At the time of his arrest, investigators found additional narcotics on his person and in his car.

Turell’s criminal history includes state felony convictions for robbery, burglary and drug offenses.  It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce.

On February 16, 2022, Turell pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of fentanyl, one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.

This matter was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Drug Enforcement Administration and Hartford Police Department.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick F. Caruso.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.