United States Drug Enforcement Administration

WEST HAVEN, Conn. - John J. Arvanitis, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England and Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that Fabian Augustine, also known as “J” and “Fabe,” 24, of West Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford to 71 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release, for trafficking crack cocaine and heroin.

This matter stems from a joint law enforcement investigation headed by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and (ATF) into a narcotics trafficking operation headed by Luther Nance, also known as “Papers” and “Cash.”  The investigation, which included numerous controlled purchases of narcotics and physical surveillance, revealed that Nance and his associates sold crack cocaine and heroin in several communities throughout Connecticut utilizing multiple bases of operation, including a house on Carroll Road in East Hartford, the Sheldon Oaks housing complex in Hartford, and an apartment on Valley Street in Willimantic.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Augustine primarily distributed narcotics from the Sheldon Oaks apartments in Hartford.  Between August 2012 and December 2012, investigators made at least 12 controlled purchases of crack cocaine or heroin from Augustine.  The investigation also revealed that Augustine possessed a firearm and planned to commit an armed robbery of another drug dealer.

On June 27, 2013, a federal grand jury returned a 51-count superseding indictment charging Augustine, Nance and 13 other individuals with narcotics conspiracy and related offenses.

Augustine has been incarcerated on state narcotics charges since January 10, 2013.     On February 19, 2014, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine (“crack cocaine”).

On March 7, 2014, Nance pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 280 grams or more of cocaine base, and one count of conspiracy to engage in money laundering.  He is detained while awaiting sentencing.

This matter is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation Division, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney, the State’s Attorney for the Judicial District of Hartford, and the Hartford, Willimantic, East Hartford, Enfield and Middletown Police Departments.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey M. Stone.