Hartford Man Indicted On Drug, Gun Charges: Authorities

HARTFORD, CT — A federal grand jury recently indicted a Hartford man with a criminal history with additional narcotics and gun offenses.

Vanessa Roberts Avery, U.S. Attorney for Connecticut; Brian D. Boyle, special agent in charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England; and Hartford Police Chief Jason Thody said Thursday a federal grand jury in New Haven has returned an indictment charging Standford Smith, also known as “Pops,” 34, of Hartford, with narcotics distribution and firearm possession offenses.

He appeared Wednesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert A. Richardson in Hartford and pleaded not guilty to the charges, Avery said.

As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, in March 2021, Smith was sentenced in Hartford federal court to 55 months of imprisonment and four years of supervised release for his role in a gun trafficking ring and for distributing crack cocaine.

Avery said he was released from prison in February 2022.

On June 2, 2023, Smith was arrested by Hartford police after he was found in possession of distribution quantities of cocaine and fentanyl, and a loaded Ruger LCP Max .380 caliber firearm, authorities said.

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

The indictment, which was returned on Jan. 23, charges Smith with one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and fentanyl, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 15 years.

Smith has been detained since his arrest.

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