United States Drug Enforcement Administration

MAR 09 - HARTFORD, Conn. - Michael J. Ferguson 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 Aurelle Huckabee, 22, of Waterbury, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Alvin W. Thompson in Hartford to one count of distribution of heroin. 

According to court documents and statements made in court, in the early morning of July 7, 2016, Naugatuck Police and emergency medical personnel responded to a Naugatuck residence on a report of a suspected overdose. The victim, a 31-year-old male, was transported to the hospital where he was pronounced deceased. Investigators seized two bags of suspected heroin and/or fentanyl, as well as the victim’s cellphone, from the scene. 

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner subsequently determined that the victim died as a result of “acute fentanyl intoxication.” The victim’s cellphone contained hundreds of text messages between the victim and Huckabee. The text messages revealed that Huckabee regularly supplied heroin to the victim in the weeks preceding the victim’s death. Huckabee has been detained since his arrest on January 4, 2017.

Judge Thompson scheduled sentencing for June 1, 2017, at which time Huckabee faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.

This matter is being investigated by the DEA’s New Haven Tactical Diversion Squad and the Naugatuck Police Department, with support and assistance of the Middlesex State’s Attorney’s Office.  The Tactical Diversion Squad includes participants from the New Haven, Hamden, Greenwich, Shelton, Bristol, Vernon, Wilton, Milford, Monroe, Fairfield and Manchester Police Departments, and the Connecticut State Police.