Drug Trafficker From Farmington Sentenced to Prison

HARTFORD, CT — A Farmington man was sentenced Monday to 60 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release, for trafficking fentanyl and other narcotics. Dante Barnes, also known as “Tre,” 31, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford, according to John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in Jan. 2019, law enforcement received information that Barnes and Jaquan Leggett, also known as “Tipsy,” were trafficking narcotics in Hartford. The investigation revealed Barnes and Leggett were using Leggett’s residence on Lenox Street in Hartford to package and store fentanyl and other drugs. Between Jan. and March 2019, investigators conducted multiple controlled purchases of fentanyl and cocaine from Barnes in Hartford and Farmington, Durham said.

Barnes and Leggett were arrested March 5, 2019. On that date, a search of Barnes’ Farmington residence revealed 440 bags of fentanyl, about 23 grams of unpackaged fentanyl, about 32 grams of crack cocaine, items used to package narcotics for street sale and $24,160 in cash, Durham said.

A search of Leggett’s Hartford residence revealed 169 bags of fentanyl, about two grams of unpackaged fentanyl, about four grams of crack cocaine, about two grams of cocaine, and items used to process and package narcotics for street sale, Durham said.

Barnes has forfeited the cash that was located and seized at the time of his arrest, as well as a 2007 Audi A6 3.2Q, according to Durham.

On Oct. 28, 2019, Barnes pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. He has been detained since Dec. 5, 2019, when his bond was revoked, Durham said.

On Oct. 28, 2019, Leggett pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine base (“crack”). He has been detained since his arrest, Durham said.