United States Drug Enforcement Administration

HARTFORD, CT. - Steven W. Derr, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England and David B. Fein, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ANDRE MESSAM, 34, formerly of Connecticut Avenue, Bridgeport, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Robert N. Chatigny in Hartford to 105 months of imprisonment, followed by six years of supervised release, for his role in a heroin distribution conspiracy.

This matter stems from “Operation Hammertime,” a four-month DEA Task Force wiretap investigation that resulted in 20 individuals being charged with various narcotics and firearms offenses related to the distribution of cocaine and crack cocaine in the greater Norwalk area. According to court documents and statements made in court, in late May and early June 2010, MESSAM traveled to New York City on four separate occasions and purchased a total of approximately 350 grams of heroin for redistribution in Connecticut.

On November 16, 2010, MESSAM pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to distribute heroin.

MESSAM’s criminal history includes two 1996 state narcotics convictions for which he received a total effective sentence of 96 months of imprisonment.

MESSAM has been detained since his arrest on June 17, 2010. On that date, law enforcement officers also seized more than $5000 in cash from his residence.

During the investigation, law enforcement officers seized more than one kilogram of cocaine, more than 200 grams of crack cocaine, multiple bundles of heroin, more than $100,000 in cash, seven vehicles and two firearms.

This matter was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Bridgeport High Intensity Drug Trafficking (HIDTA) Task Force, which includes members of the Bridgeport, Stamford, Norwalk and Stratford Police Departments, and the Connecticut State Police. Substantial assistance to the investigation was provided by the Norwalk Police Department’s Special Services Squad and the Stamford Police Department’s Narcotics and Organized Crime Squad. The United States Marshals Service and the Bridgeport Police Department assisted in the arrests of the defendants.