Plea Deal Reached in Southington Overdose Case

SOUTHINGTON, CT — A plea bargain has been reached related to a July drug overdose case in Southington, a leading prosecutor said.

John H. Durham, United States attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced Thursday that Thomas Halleran, 36, of Cheshire, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty today in Hartford federal court to one count of possession with intent to distribute, and the distribution of, heroin and/or fentanyl.

The charged resulted from an ongoing statewide initiative targeting narcotics dealers who, "distribute heroin, fentanyl or opioids that cause death or serious injury to users," Durham said.

According to case records, on July 25, 2017, local police and emergency medical personnel responded to a residence in Southington, where they encountered an unresponsive 31-year-old female on the floor.

The woman was pronounced deceased and investigators seized five folds of suspected heroin/fentanyl, two empty folds, other drug paraphernalia, and the victim’s cellphone, according to case records.

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for the State of Connecticut concluded that the victim’s death was caused by the combined effects of fentanyl, acetyl fentanyl, methadone, alprazolam and alcohol.

According to case records, an analysis of the seized cellphone revealed that Halleran had been supplying heroin/fentanyl to the woman for about six weeks, and that he delivered heroin/fentanyl to the victim at her residence on the night of July 24, 2017.

Halleran is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford on Sept. 21. The offenses carries a maximum term of 20 years in prison.

Halleran is being detained pending sentencing.

Photo Credit: Chris Dehnel

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