Farmington Man Sent To Prison For Drug Trafficking: Feds

FARMINGTON/HARTFORD, CT — A Farmington man will spend the next six and a half years of his life behind bars for drug trafficking following his sentencing in U.S. District Court in Hartford last week.

Vanessa Roberts Avery, U.S. Attorney in Connecticut, said Friday that Denis Murtic, 38, of Farmington, was sentenced Thursday by U.S. District Judge Omar A. Williams in Hartford to 78 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release, for fentanyl and cocaine trafficking offenses.

Williams also ordered Murtic to pay a $25,000 fine.

According to court documents and statements made in court, the DEA’s Hartford Task Force launched an investigation of Murtic for trafficking large quantities of fentanyl and cocaine.

Avery said, on Sept. 3, 2020, a court-authorized search of an apartment on Grafton Street in Hartford connected to Murtic revealed thousands of wax folds of fentanyl, more than 700 grams of cocaine and items used to process and package narcotics for distribution.

On Oct. 18, 2021, investigators made a controlled purchase of approximately 50 grams of fentanyl from Murtic and Alexander Rodriguez at a parking lot in East Hartford, according to Avery.

After the transaction, investigators observed Murtic and Rodriguez travel to an apartment on Wakefield Circle in East Hartford, she said.

On Oct. 26, 2021, Murtic, Rodriguez, and Efrain Rosario were arrested at the apartment, which was being used as a narcotics processing and packaging mill.

According to federal officials, a search of the apartment revealed more than 40,000 glassine bags and wax folds of fentanyl, approximately 1.7 kilograms of loose fentanyl, two compressed bricks of cocaine weighing a total of approximately 1.5 kilograms, and numerous narcotics processing and packaging items, including a kilogram press.

A related search of Murtic’s business resulted in the seizure of a .22 caliber handgun and ammunition, Avery said.

Analysis of Murtic’s phone revealed numerous texts and images involving Murtic’s illegal acquisition of other firearms, she said.

Murtic has been detained since his arrest.

On Jan. 20, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and 500 grams or more of cocaine, Avery said.

Rodriguez, of East Windsor, and Rosario, of Hartford, have pleaded guilty and await sentencing.

The DEA Task Force includes personnel from the DEA Hartford Resident Office, the Connecticut State Police, and the Bristol, Hartford, East Hartford, Enfield, Manchester, New Britain, Rocky Hill, Wethersfield, and Windsor Locks Police Departments.

For the full announcement, click on this link.

From Nov. 8, 2021: 'Farmington Man Indicted In Hefty Fed Fentanyl/Coke Case'