Manchester Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Fentanyl, Gun Offenses

MANCHESTER, CT — A man authorities said sold undercover agents fentanyl in Manchester has entered a plea in his federal case.

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, said that Eduardo Colon, 34, entered a guilty plea Wednesday before U.S. District Judge Omar A. Williams in Hartford to fentanyl distribution and firearm possession offenses.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on June 3, 2022, the FBI's Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force made a controlled purchase of 1,000 wax sleeves of fentanyl from Colon in front of his Manchester residence in the Buckland Hills section. Later that day, a court-authorized search of Colon’s residence uncovered about 2,100 sleeves of fentanyl, approximately 250 grams of unpackaged fentanyl, and a loaded 9mm semi-automatic handgun, according to case records.

Colon’s criminal history includes state felony convictions for narcotics offenses, Avery said. It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce, Avery added.

Colon pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, an offense that carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years, and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.

A sentencing date has not been scheduled.