Man Pleads Guilty To Fentanyl Trafficking In Ledyard: Feds

LEDYARD, CT — A Rhode Island man pleaded guilty Monday in New Haven federal court to a fentanyl trafficking offense that allegedly occurred in Ledyard, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut John H. Durham announced in a news release Tuesday.

According to court documents, police said 42-year-old Juan Hazard of Cranston, R.I., agreed in April 2017 to meet an individual at a location in Ledyard to conduct a narcotics transaction.

Durham said investigators stopped the accused's vehicle in Ledyard on April 26, 2017, and he was arrested after investigators located a wooden box containing three shrink-wrapped packages containing approximately 338 grams of fentanyl in the rear of the vehicle.

Durham also said the accused's young child was in the back seat of the car at the time of the offense.

The accused pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, which carries a minimum prison term of five years and a maximum term of 40 years, according to Durham.

The accused is scheduled to be sentenced in Hartford on Dec. 10. He has been detained since his federal arrest on May 4.

This investigation has been conducted by the FBI and the Ledyard, Town of Groton and Waterford Police Departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patricia Stolfi Collins.

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