Former Norwich Man Sentenced To Prison For Drug Trafficking: Feds

NORWICH, CT — A man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for drug trafficking in southeastern Connecticut, according to a statement from Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut. Kareem Swinton, aka "K," 41, last residing in Owings Mills, MD, will also serve 6 years of supervised release.

According to prosecutors, in 2018, the FBI, the Norwich Police Department, and other law enforcement agencies began investigating a drug trafficking organization operating in southeastern Connecticut.

The investigation found that Swinton, who formerly resided in Norwich, regularly traveled to Connecticut and other states to supply co-conspirators with drugs, primarily cocaine and crack. Swinton’s co-coconspirators in Connecticut sold the drugs in the Norwich area, according to prosecutors.

A jury found Swinton guilty in August of one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and distribution of, cocaine and cocaine base (“crack”), and one count of possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, a controlled substance.

Ten others were convicted of drug trafficking crimes in connection with this investigation.

Swinton has been detained in federal custody since Feb. 21, 2019.

Swinton’s criminal history includes a prior federal conviction for trafficking cocaine and crack. Swinton was arrested by the Texas Highway Patrol in June 2008 after he was found in possession of approximately two kilograms of cocaine and more than two pounds of marijuana he was transporting from Arizona to Connecticut, according to prosecutors.

In August 2009, he was sentenced in Bridgeport federal court to 100 months of imprisonment for that crime.