Southeastern Connecticut Drug Trafficker, Co-Conspirator Found Guilty
Brideport, Conn. - Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England, and New London Police Chief Brian Wright, today announced that a federal jury in Bridgeport has found Anthony Whyte, also known as “Jak Mac,” 47, of New London, and Amy Sarcia, 52, of Stonington, guilty of narcotics trafficking and money laundering offenses, and Whyte guilty of a firearm offense.
The trial before U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden began on September 10 and the jury returned the guilty verdicts this afternoon.
This matter stems from an investigation led by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Connecticut Statewide Narcotics Taskforce East, Connecticut Department of Correction and the New London, Waterford, City of Groton and Stonington Police Departments, into the distribution of narcotics and illegal possession of firearms in southeastern Connecticut. The investigation included court-authorized wiretaps and controlled purchases and seizures of heroin, cocaine and firearms.
According to the evidence introduced during the trial, Whyte obtained heroin, fentanyl and cocaine from various sources in Connecticut, New York and elsewhere, and distributed the narcotics to other members of the conspiracy. Whyte’s co-conspirators then sold the drugs to customers and other street-level drug dealers. Sarcia, who both distributed and used cocaine, accepted narcotics proceeds from Whyte and provided Whyte with weekly paychecks from her business, Two Wives Pizza, and a federal W-2 tax form, in an attempt to disguise the narcotics proceeds as employment wages. Sarcia also accepted cash from Whyte for allowing him to use three apartments in a building she managed to store and dispense narcotics.
On February 21, 2019, Whyte, Sarcia and several other co-conspirators were arrested. On that date, a search of Whyte’s New London apartment revealed more than 1.5 kilograms of cocaine; approximately 185 grams of heroin; approximately 100 grams of fentanyl and fentanyl pills; 10 firearms, several of which were stolen; and approximately $25,000 in cash. Investigators seized additional narcotics, another firearm, and nearly $200,000 in cash from other members of the conspiracy.
The jury found Whyte and Sarcia guilty of one count of conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, various narcotics, and one count of conspiracy to launder monetary instruments (“money laundering”). Whyte was also found guilty of three counts of possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, various narcotics, and one count possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
At sentencing, which is not scheduled, Whyte faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 15 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life, and Sarcia faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 60 years.
Twenty-Three others charged as a result of this investigation previously pleaded guilty.
This investigation has been conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Marshals Service, Connecticut Statewide Narcotics Taskforce East, Connecticut Department of Correction and the New London, Waterford, City of Groton, Stonington, Norwich, Old Saybrook and UConn Police Departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Natasha M. Freismuth and Angel M. Krull.
