Manchester Man Gets 2-Plus Years In Fed Drug Case

MANCHESTER, CT — A convicted member of a drug ring with Manchester ties is to spend two-plus years in prison.

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that Matthew Gastringer, 35, of Manchester, was sentenced Wednesday by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford to 28 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for distributing fentanyl pills.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in 2020, the FBI's Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force began investigating the drug trafficking activities of Phillip Garcia, also known as "Flip," who was distributing cocaine, as well as fentanyl disguised as oxycodone pills. His territory was the Hartford area through a network of associates, according t0 case records.

In July 2020, investigators made two controlled purchases of fentanyl pills from Garcia and Gastringer, according t0 case records.

The investigation further revealed that Garcia supplied Gastringer with fentanyl pills that he sold at profit to customers, and also consumed himself, Avery said.

Gastringer was arrested on May 12, 2021. On April 28 of this year, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and distribution of, fentanyl. He has been detained since December 3, 2021, when his bond was revoked.

Garcia pleaded guilty to narcotics distribution and firearm possession offenses and awaits sentencing.