Hartford Man Charged With Dealing Fentanyl: Authorities

HARTFORD, CT — A Hartford man was charged by federal authorities Thursday on multiple drug trafficking charges related to fentanyl distribution, officials said.

Vanessa Roberts Avery, U.S. Attorney for Connecticut; Robert Fuller, special agent in charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and Hartford Police Chief Jason Thody Thursday announced Johnny Milner, also known as “Blaze” and “OG,” 45, of Hartford, was arrested Wednesday on a criminal complaint charging him with possession with intent to distribute and distribution of 40 grams or more of fentanyl.

Following his arrest, Milner appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas O. Farrish in Hartford and was ordered detained, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Officials said law enforcement received information from various sources Milner was distributing fentanyl to street-level narcotics dealers in the SANA apartment complex located on Main Street in Hartford.

That area is commonly referred to as the “Sands,” and Milner was using locations on Prospect Avenue and Bellevue Street in Hartford to store and distribute narcotics, authorities said.

On Feb. 21 and March 15, investigators made controlled purchases of 100 grams of fentanyl from Milner.

In addition, investigators conducted court-authorized searches of locations in Hartford and New Britain connected to him.

A search of an apartment on Chestnut Street in New Britain that Milner uses revealed approximately 70 grams of fentanyl and $221,296 in cash, authorities said.

The charges carry a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years.

This matter is being investigated by the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force and the Hartford Police Department, with the assistance of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Hartford Task Force.

The FBI Task Force includes members of the Hartford Police Department, East Hartford Police Department, New Britain Police Department, West Hartford Police Department, Connecticut State Police and Connecticut Department of Correction.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert S. Ruff.