United States Drug Enforcement Administration

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. - Michael J. Ferguson Special Agent in Charge of the DEA’s New England Division and Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that Kyle Petersen, 31, of New Britain, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to 120 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for distributing fentanyl and other controlled substances.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in late December 2015, the DEA’s Hartford Task Force and New Britain Police Department received information that Petersen was selling fentanyl powder, prescription pills and marijuana.  DEA Task Force Officers and the New Britain Police Department Special Services Unit initiated an investigation and made multiple controlled purchases of fentanyl from Petersen.  The investigation, which included court-authorized wiretaps, revealed that John Casadei, of Morris, used the darknet, an internet network that can only be accessed through the use of specific software or authorizations, to purchase large quantities of fentanyl that were shipped from China.  Casadei also obtained and distributed various prescription pills, including Xanax and oxycodone.  Casadei then supplied fentanyl and various prescription pills to Jared McBriarty, of Bristol, who in turn supplied them to Petersen.  Petersen distributed the drugs to other individuals who sold them throughout central Connecticut.

The investigation revealed that Petersen acquired and distributed at least 1.5 kilograms of fentanyl, and attempted to acquire an additional kilogram of fentanyl, which law enforcement seized after it was shipped from China.
Petersen, Casadei, McBriarty and other individuals involved in this narcotics distribution ring were arrested on May 19, 2016.  On that date, law enforcement a New Britain residence that Petersen used as a stash location and seized approximately $740,000 in cash, approximately 3.2 kilograms of (commonly known as “ecstasy”), and more than 40,000 Xanax pills.  A search of Petersen’s residence revealed additional quantities of narcotics and more than $11,000 in cash.  Law enforcement subsequently seized approximately $80,000 from Petersen’s bank account.  Petersen has been detained since his arrest.  On April 26, 2017, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, 400 grams or more of fentanyl.

Casadei and McBriarty have pleaded guilty to related charges and await sentencing.

The Drug Enforcement Administration’s Hartford Task Force includes personnel from the DEA Hartford Resident Office and the Bristol, Hartford, East Hartford, Manchester, New Britain, Rocky Hill, Wethersfield, Windsor Locks and Willimantic Police Departments.  Agencies assisting the investigation include the U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Homeland Security Investigations, New Britain State’s Attorney’s Office and Connecticut State Police.