Man Gets 8 Years for Role in Coffee Can Coke Case

MANCHESTER/HARTFORD, CT — A Hartford man has been sentenced to more than eight years in prison for his role in a case that originated with cocaine being sent to Manchester in coffee cans.

John H. Durham, United States attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that Hartford resident Gerard Brown, 38, who goes by the street name of “Goldie,” was sentenced today by Senior U.S. District Judge Alfred V. Covello in Hartford to 100 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for his role in a cocaine and crack cocaine distribution ring.

According to court documents and statements made in court, the matter stems from 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 Brown, Anthony “Pretty” Shelton, who is Brown's brother, and Trevon “B.J.” Terry, according to case records.

Brown, Shelton 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.

A total of 20 individuals wound up being charged and convicted as a result of the investigation, Durham said.
Brown has been detained since his arrest on Jan. 21, 2016. On that date, a search of Brown's Kensington Street residence revealed items used to process and package narcotics for street sale, and a search of Brown himself netted $2,693 in cash, according to case records.

On April 10, 2017, Brown pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine.

Brown has forfeited the cash that was seized from him at the time of his arrest, Durham said.

Brown's criminal history includes state firearm and drug convictions, and a robbery conviction for which he was sentenced to 18 years in prison, suspended after seven years.

Gil-Grande, Shelton and Terry previously pleaded guilty to related charges. On Jan. 31, 2017, Gil-Grande was sentenced to 70 months of imprisonment. On Dec. 18, 2017, Terry was sentenced to 57 months of imprisonment and, on Aug. 7, 2018, Shelton was sentenced to 110 months of imprisonment.

Photo Credit: Chris Dehnel

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