United States Drug Enforcement Administration

NEW HAVEN, 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 a federal jury in New Haven today found Michael Thompson, 34, and Tylon Vaughn, also known as "Bucky B," 35, both of New Haven, guilty of narcotics distribution offenses.

Thompson and Vaughn and more than one hundred other individuals were charged as a result of "Operation Bloodline," a joint law enforcement investigation targeting narcotics trafficking and gang violence in the Dwight-Kensington and Fair Haven sections of New Haven.  Led by the DEA New Haven Task Force and the New Haven and Hamden Police Departments, the year-long investigation included the use of court-authorized wiretaps on numerous telephones, extensive physical surveillance, controlled purchases of narcotics, execution of search warrants, and seizures of narcotics and firearms.

According to the evidence at trial, Thompson received kilogram quantities of cocaine from suppliers, including co-defendant Christopher "White Boy Chris" Morley, which Thompson converted into crack cocaine and then sold to other narcotics distributors and customers.  Morley also provided Thompson with quantities of oxycodone, which Thompson redistributed to others.  At times, Thompson supplied powder cocaine to Morley.

The trial evidence further established that Vaughn received distribution quantities of crack cocaine from co-defendant Britt Martin, also known as "Big Baby," and that he distributed crack and marijuana, among other controlled substances, to customers in Fair Haven.  In May and June 2011, investigators made two controlled purchases of crack from Vaughn.

The jury found Thompson guilty of one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, five kilograms or more of cocaine, 280 grams or more of cocaine ("crack cocaine"), and a quantity of oxycodone.  Vaughn was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, 280 grams of more of cocaine base and a quantity of marijuana.  On these convictions, both defendants face a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life.  Vaughn also was found guilty of two counts of distributing cocaine base, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, on each count.

Senior U.S. District Judge Ellen Bree Burns scheduled sentencing for both defendants for February 28, 2014.

Thompson and Vaughn have been detained since May 22, 2012.

Morley and Martin have pleaded guilty and await sentencing.

This matter is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration's New Haven Task Force, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the New Haven, Hamden, West Haven, North Haven, Branford, Ansonia and Meriden Police Departments.  The United States Marshals Service, the Connecticut State Police, the Connecticut Department of Correction, Parole and Community Services and the Milford, Hartford, New Britain, North Branford and Stratford Police Departments have provided valuable assistance to the investigation.