East Lyme Man Sentenced In Fatal Heroin Overdose Case: Feds

EAST LYME, CT — A 27-year-old East Lyme man was sentenced to 18 months in prison, followed by three year of supervised release, for dealing heroin that led to the overdose death of a 25-year-old Fred Pardini, according to United States Attorney John H. Durham.

Christopher Stevens was sentenced Thursday by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer in New Haven, and his prosecution was part of an ongoing statewide initiative targeting narcotics dealers who distribute heroin, fentanyl or opioids that cause death or serious injury to users.

According to court documents and prosecutors, in the early morning hours of June 4, 2016, East Lyme Police and emergency medical personnel responded to a vehicle parked on the side of a road with its engine running and found Pardini slumped over dead in the driver’s seat, and a young child in the rear seat. Investigators also found a torn wax paper baggy in the man’s hand and several other baggies under his body.

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for the State of Connecticut subsequently determined that Pardini died from acute heroin and fentanyl toxicities.

The investigation revealed that, shortly before he overdosed, the victim met Stevens at Stevens’ East Lyme residence, and Stevens provided him with heroin.

Stevens was arrested on a federal criminal complaint about a month later, and in May 2017, he pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of heroin.

Stevens, who is free on a $50,000 bond, was ordered to report to prison on November 8.

This matter was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New Haven Task Force with the assistance of the East Lyme Police Department.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer R. Laraia.

Image via Shutterstock

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