Hamden Man Sentenced For Distributing Fentanyl: Feds

HAMDEN, CT — A Hamden man has been sentenced to seven years in federal prison for distributing fentanyl, according to officials.

Darryl Small, 34, was also sentenced Thursday to five years of supervised release following the prison term, U.S. Attorney for Connecticut Vanessa Roberts Avery announced.

Authorities said the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force began investigating Small after receiving information that he was distributing heroin and fentanyl in and around New Haven. Investigators conducted multiple controlled purchases of fentanyl from Small in December 2020 and January 2021, according to authorities.

Small was arrested on Feb. 24, 2021 after a court-authorized search of his Hamden residence revealed $24,134 in cash and approximately $165,000 in jewelry, according to a news release from the U.S. States Attorney’s Office.

The judge ordered Small to forfeit the cash and jewelry, and Small’s 2016 Mercedes-Benz C300 that was also seized at the time of his arrest, the news release states.

Small has been detained since his arrest. He pleaded guilty in March to one count of possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, 40 grams or more of fentanyl.

Small’s criminal history includes felony convictions for criminal possession of a weapon, carrying a pistol without a permit, and first-degree robbery, according to officials.

The FBI Safe Streets Task Force includes officers from the New Haven Police Department, Milford Police Department, Hamden Police Department, East Haven Police Department, Connecticut State Police and Connecticut Department of Correction.