Armed Hamden Drug Distributor Sentenced To Federal Prison: Feds

HAMDEN, CT — A Hamden man was sentenced Monday to five years in federal prison for possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, according to officials.

Latrell Rountree, also known as “Roundtree,” 28, was also sentenced to three years of supervised release following the prison term, U.S. Attorney for Connecticut Vanessa Roberts Avery announced.

Authorities said an investigation into Rountree and his associates found that Rountree was stashing narcotics in his apartment on Mix Avenue in Hamden.

As investigators arrived to execute a search warrant at Rountree’s apartment on May 24, 2022, officials said Rountree threw a backpack from the fourth-floor balcony and tried to flee by climbing over the railing of the balcony to the third-floor apartment.

“He was apprehended outside of the apartment building in a brush line,” officials wrote in a news release. “A search of the backpack revealed approximately 106 grams of crack cocaine, approximately 12 grams of fentanyl, three loaded semi-automatic pistols, and ammunition. An additional quantity of crack was found inside the apartment.”

Rountree’s criminal history includes felony convictions for firearm offenses, according to officials.

Rountree pleaded guilty in April to possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. He was released after posting a $200,000 bond and is required to report to prison on Oct. 12.