New Haven Man Sentenced To 14 Years In Federal Prison For Distributing Heroin And Crack Cocaine
MAY 14 - (BRIDGEPORT Conn.) - John J. Arvanitis, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England and Deirdre M. Daly, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that Ralston Williams, also known as “Chris,” 43, of New Haven, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant in Hartford to 168 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for distributing heroin and crack cocaine. Williams also was ordered to pay a $100,000 fine.
On May 29, 2012, a jury found Williams guilty of one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin, one count of possession with intent to distribute heroin, and one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine (“crack cocaine”).
According to the evidence at trial, in August 2011, the DEA’s Bridgeport High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force initiated an investigation into a series of suspected heroin overdose cases in the greater New Haven area, including one that resulted in the death of a woman in Milford on August 16, 2011. The investigation revealed that Williams, his co-defendant, Jason Brodsky, and others rented hotel rooms in the New Haven area and sold prepackaged heroin to a variety of customers. The trial evidence included surveillance videos, hotel records, telephone records, recorded calls, seized narcotics, as well as testimony of law enforcement officers and cooperating witnesses.
Williams was arrested on September 7, 2011, at which time he was found in possession of approximately 140 bags of heroin and 40 bags of crack cocaine packaged for sale.
Judge Bryant found that Williams and Brodsky sold the heroin that caused the overdose death of the Milford woman.
Brodsky has pleaded guilty and awaits sentencing.
This matter was investigated by the DEA’s Bridgeport High Intensity Drug Trafficking (HIDTA) Task Force and the Milford Police Department, with the assistance of the Connecticut State Police and the Bridgeport and Stamford Police Departments.
