East Hartford Man Pleads Guilty To Drug, Gun Charges: Feds

EAST HARTFORD, CT — An East Hartford man has pleaded guilty in federal court to drug dealing and gun possession offenses.

Marc H. Silverman, acting U.S. attorney for Connecticut, and James Ferguson, special agent in charge, ATF Boston Field Division, said Warren Simpson, also known as “Wodi,” 43, of East Hartford, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty Thursday in U.S. District Court in Bridgeport to drug trafficking and firearm possession offenses.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in July and August 2024, ATF special agents conducted multiple controlled purchases of cocaine from Simpson in Hartford.

On Sept. 12, 2024, as investigators approached Simpson’s residence on Judson Avenue in East Hartford to execute a federal search warrant, Simpson attempted to flee and tossed bags containing narcotics as he ran, according to Silverman.

Investigators apprehended Simpson and recovered the bags.

Authorities said searches of Simpson’s residence and vehicle, and the discarded bags, revealed approximately 248 grams of fentanyl, approximately 690 grams of cocaine, drug processing and packaging materials, a .40 caliber Smith & Wesson pistol, and ammunition.

Silverman said Simpson’s criminal history includes felony convictions in Connecticut for possession of narcotics, larceny, and criminal possession of a firearm.

It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm and ammunition that have moved in interstate or foreign commerce.

Simpson pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and 500 grams more of cocaine.

This is an offense punishable by a mandatory minimum term of five years and a maximum term of 40 years.

Officials said Simspson also pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 15 years.

Simpson is released on a $200,000 bond, pending sentencing, which is not yet scheduled.

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