Waterbury Drug Dealer Pleads Guilty To Federal Drug, Firearms Charges

HARTFORD — A 38-year-old Waterbury man has pleaded guilty to federal narcotics and firearms charges for operating a drug distribution facility out of a rented storage space in Waterbury.

According to a statement Tuesday by the U.S. State's Attorney's Office out of Hartford, Lenwood Gatling, 38, of Waterbury, pleaded guilty Monday before U.S. District Court Judge Michael P. Shea in U.S. District Court in Hartford.

Prosecutors said Gatling ran a narcotics storage and distribution operation in a storage unit he rented at a facility on Meriden Road in Waterbury from July to October 2020.

Subject to a federal Drug Enforcement Administration probe out the the DEA's New Haven office, Gatling was arrested in October 2020.

Monday, he pleaded guilty to one count of possession to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin and one count of possession of a firearm by a felon.

The heroin charge carries with it a minimum, five-year prison term and up to 40 years behind bars while the weapons charge has a maximum charge of 10 years in prison.

No sentencing date has been announced.

Gatling, who has been detained since his arrest, has a criminal history with multiple felony offenses, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office out of Hartford.

Prior to Gatling's arrest, federal investigators seized from the storage unit nine firearms (three of which were stolen), 420 grams of fentanyl, 99 grams of heroin, nine grams of cocaine and $30,000 in cash.

Several law enforcement agencies joined the DEA in the investigation, including the U.S. Marshals Service, Internal Revenue Service's criminal investigative division, Connecticut State police and police departments from New Haven, Hamden, West Haven, North Haven, East Haven, Branford, Ansonia, Meriden, Derby, Middletown, Naugatuck and Waterbury.