Milford Man Sentenced In Connection With Overdose Death: Feds

MILFORD, CT — A Milford man has been sentenced to 21 months in prison in connection with the overdose death of a 28-year-old man last year, according to federal officials. Anthony Amato, 31, was also sentenced to three years of supervised release following the prison term for distributing fentanyl and heroin, officials said.

Milford police and emergency medical personnel responded to a Milford rooming house on Aug. 26, 2019, on the report of a drug overdose. Inside the residence, a 28-year-old man was pronounced dead.

At the scene, investigators interviewed witnesses and collected evidence related to narcotics use, including needles and wax folds, some of which contained suspected heroin, according to authorities.

“The investigation revealed that the overdose victim and Amato, who resided in another room in the rooming house, were together in the afternoon of August 24, 2019,” officials wrote in a news release. “On August 29, 2019, a court-authorized search of Amato’s room revealed multiple ripped wax folds and other narcotics-related evidence. Some of the wax folds were marked with the same stamp as the wax folds found in the victim’s room. Laboratory analysis of the wax folds revealed fentanyl and heroin residue.

“Subsequent review of text communications between Amato and the victim revealed that Amato provided the victim with heroin in August 24, 2019.”

Amato’s criminal history includes multiple convictions for narcotics-related offenses in Connecticut, according to officials.

Amato has been detained since his federal arrest last September. He pleaded guilty in January to one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and heroin.