2 Stamford Men Used Mail To Traffic Fentanyl Into CT, Federal Officials Say

STAMFORD, CT — A federal grand jury in Bridgeport has returned an indictment charging two Stamford men with conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, according to an announcement from federal officials.

Tasean Lemar Brown, 35, and Stanley Charles, 44, were arrested Monday after the indictment was returned on April 3. The men appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Maria E. Garcia in New Haven and pleaded not guilty, and they were ordered detained.

"As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, an investigation revealed that Brown and Charles were using the U.S. Mail to traffic fentanyl into Connecticut and distribute it in southwestern Connecticut," federal officials said in a news release. "The investigation included the seizure of two parcels that Brown mailed to Charles from California and Arizona, the first containing approximately one kilogram of fentanyl powder, and the second containing approximately three kilograms of counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl."

If convicted, officials said Brown and Charles each face a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison, with a maximum term of life.

Acting U.S. Attorney Marc H. Silverman stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt.

This matter is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Connecticut State Police, and the Stamford, Greenwich, Bridgeport, Danbury, Stratford, and Norwalk Police Departments.

Officials said the case is part of the "Operation Take Back America" initiative.