Hartford Man Sent To Jail For Drug Conviction: Feds

HARTFORD, CT — A 35-year-old Hartford man was sent to jail last week for distributing drugs, according to federal justice officials.

Vanessa Roberts Avery, U.S. Attorney for Connecticut, said Karlis Manson, 35, of Hartford, was sentenced Wednesday, Dec. 13, by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer in New Haven to four years of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for distributing controlled substances.

According to court documents and statements made in court, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Hartford Task Force and Hartford Police Department investigated a clothing store business located at 136 Barbour St. in Hartford that was suspected of trafficking narcotics.

In October 2022, investigators made two controlled purchases of marijuana from the store, officials said.

On Oct. 5, 2022, Manson and others were in the store when investigators conducted a court-authorized search of the store and seized quantities of suspected crack cocaine, psychedelic mushrooms, cocaine, marijuana, heroin, synthetic opioid films, fentanyl pills disguised as oxycodone, MDMA, drug packaging and processing materials, U.S. currency, and five handguns, Avery said.

Manson, who was found in possession of distribution quantities of fentanyl and crack cocaine, and approximately $1,000 in cash, was arrested at that time, authorities said.

After a K-9 alerted to the presence of narcotics in Manson’s vehicle, which was parked outside the store, a search of the vehicle revealed approximately 400 grams of cocaine, 10 pounds of marijuana, and $8,200 in cash, Avery said.

On Sept. 7, Manson pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances.

Manson, who is released on a $100,000 bond, is required to report to prison on Jan. 17, 2024.

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