News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 19, 2005

BRIDGEPORT MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO SELLING COCAINE

June W. Stansbury, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration in New England and Kevin J. O'Connor, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that MICHAEL WALLACE, age 34, of 1600 Barnum Avenue, Bridgeport, waived indictment and pleaded guilty today to a two-count Information charging him with using a telephone to facilitate the distribution of cocaine. WALLACE's plea of guilty was accepted by United States District Judge Stefan R. Underhill this afternoon in Bridgeport.

According to documents filed with the Court and statements made today in connection with the plea proceeding, WALLACE negotiated with an undercover officer, who had recovered a cell phone from a drug dealer, for the purchase and sale of a quantity of cocaine. The use of the telephone to facilitate the drug transaction was the basis for the charges in the Information.

WALLACE faces up to eight years of imprisonment when he is sentenced by Judge Underhill on August 18, 2005. The plea agreement between WALLACE and the Government is a binding plea agreement that the Court is free to accept of reject at the time of sentencing. The plea agreement calls for a sentence between 77 and 96 months.

U.S. O'Connor praised the investigation of this matter conducted by Special Agents of Drug Enforcement Administration and officers of the Stratford and Bridgeport Police Departments.