Meriden Man Ran Drug Ring While Incarcerated: Feds

MERIDEN, CT — A Meriden man has pleaded guilty to running a cocaine and crack ring while he was incarcerated, according to authorities. Westley Northrup, also known as “Piff,” 30, of Meriden, pleaded guilty Monday in federal court to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base (“crack”), U.S. States Attorney for Connecticut John H. Durham announced in a press release.

The matter stems from a joint investigation headed by the DEA New Haven Task Force that has included the use of court-authorized wiretaps, controlled purchases of crack cocaine, and seizures of cocaine and cash proceeds.

“The investigation revealed that Northrup operated a cocaine and crack cocaine trafficking ring while he was incarcerated in state custody at the Cheshire Correctional Institution,” according to a press release from the U.S. States Attorney’s Office. “The investigation, which included consensually-recorded prison calls, revealed that Northrup conspired with others to purchase cocaine from suppliers, convert some of the cocaine to crack cocaine, and then distribute crack and cocaine through a network of dealers in central Connecticut.”

On July 20, 2017, a grand jury in New Haven returned a nine-count indictment charging Northrup and 10 other individuals with various offenses.

Northrup faces a maximum term of life in prison and is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 24.

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