Shelton Man Accused Of Trafficking Narcotics Sentenced: Feds

SHELTON, CT — A Shelton man accused of trafficking narcotics in Bridgeport was sentenced Monday to 66 months in prison, followed by four years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney for Connecticut Vanessa Roberts Avery announced in a news release.

Anthony Small, 31, of Shelton, has been detained since his arrest in January 2019. On Jan. 21, 2020, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with the intent to distribute, controlled substances, as well as three counts of possession with intent to distribute heroin, Avery said.

Small also has pending state charges stemming from a shooting in Stratford in January 2019, Avery said.

According to court documents and statements made in court, members of the FBI's Bridgeport Safe Streets Task Force and Bridgeport police began investigating individuals suspected of distributing narcotics in and around the city in the summer of 2017.

The investigation included the use of court-authorized wiretaps, controlled purchases of narcotics, physical and video surveillance and multiple search and seizure warrants, Avery said.

According to Avery, the investigation revealed a person known to Small led an organization that distributed large quantities of heroin, fentanyl and crack cocaine on the west side of Bridgeport.

The group used a residence on Poplar Street to store, process and package narcotics, Avery said.

Additionally, intercepted calls revealed the group's suspected leader kept a firearm at the residence and had it in their possession while looking to retaliate against someone, Avery said.

According to Avery, a close associate of the suspected leader was shot and killed near the Poplar Street residence on Oct. 31, 2018. A woman who was close by was also killed during the incident.

Additionally, a co-conspirator who was in possession of drugs they intended to distribute engaged police in a car chase, during which another driver was struck and killed and two pedestrians were maimed, Avery said.