3rd Sentence Rendered in Coffee Can Cocaine Case

MANCHESTER/HARTFORD, — A Hartford man has been given a prison sentence of more than nine years in a narcotics case that began with a Manchester man receiving shipments of cocaine from the Caribbean hidden in coffee cans.

John H. Durham, United States attorney for the District of Connecticut, said that 39-year-old Hartford resident Anthony Shelton, who goes by the street name of “Pretty,” was sentenced on Tuesday by Senior U.S. District Judge Alfred V. Covello in Hartford to 110 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for his role in the coffee can cocaine and crack cocaine distribution ring.

According to case records, the case is part of an investigation headed by the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Violent Crimes Task Force and the Hartford Police Department that targeted a drug trafficking organization operating in Hartford’s North End.

The investigation revealed that David Gil-Grande, of Manchester, received shipments of cocaine, secreted in sealed coffee cans, from Puerto Rico.

He then supplied the cocaine to Shelton; Shelton's brother, Gerard “Goldie” Brown; and Trevon “B.J.” Terry, according to case records.

Shelton, Brown and Terry then converted much of the cocaine into crack and distributed both forms of the drug in the area of Barbour Street in Hartford, according to case records.

A total of 20 people were charged and convicted as a result of the investigation.

On Jan. 21, 2016, investigators conducted a court-authorized search of Shelton’s residence and seized a loaded 9mm semi-automatic pistol, ammunition, body armor, and items used to process and package narcotics. Shelton was arrested the next day at a hotel in Branford. At the time of his arrest, he had on him $32,673 in cash and expensive jewelry.

Shelton also forfeited a 2006 Audi A6, Durham said.

Shelton has been detained since his arrest. On May 22, 2017, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine.

His criminal history includes six drug-related convictions. In 2003, he was sentenced in state court to 12 years for a drug offense.

Gil-Grande, Brown and Terry pleaded guilty to related charges. On Jan. 31, 2017, Gil-Grande was sentenced to 70 months on Dec. 18, Terry was sentenced to 57 months.

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