United States Attorney's Office District of Connecticut
Press Release

HARTFORD CRACK DEALER SENTENCED TO NEARLY SIX YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON

Kevin J. O’Connor, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that CHRIS RUSSELL, age 23 (DOB 01/29/83), of 43 Green Street, Hartford, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Alvin W. Thompson in Hartford to 70 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release. On March 21, 2006, RUSSELL pleaded guilty, admitting that he conspired to possess with intent to distribute between 50 and 150 grams of cocaine base (“crack” cocaine).

RUSSELL’s conviction stems from a 10-month investigation, code named “Operation Big Boy,” that included federal wiretaps on nine different telephones, months of surveillance, and numerous purchases and seizures of crack cocaine in Hartford. According to documents filed with the Court and statements made in court, RUSSELL regularly purchased significant quantities of crack cocaine from Negus Forrester for redistribution in and around Hartford.

On August 8, 2005, Negus Forrester pleaded guilty to his involvement in this narcotics conspiracy. Forrester is awaiting sentencing.

Following service of his term of incarceration, RUSSELL is subject to deportation to Jamaica.

This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Hartford Police, with the assistance of the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Connecticut State Police, the United States Marshal Service, the Windsor Police Department, the Connecticut Judicial Marshals, the Hartford Housing Authority, the Meriden Police Department, the Wallingford Police Department, the South Windsor Police Department and the Manchester Police Department.

Assistant United States Attorneys Raymond F. Miller, Robert M. Spector, and Dave Vatti are prosecuting these cases.

CONTACT:

U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
Tom Carson
(203) 821-3722
thomas.carson@usdoj.gov