United States Attorney's Office District of Connecticut
Press Release

SOUTHEASTERN CONNECTICUT DRUG TRAFFICKER SENTENCED TO 42 MONTHS IN FEDERAL PRISON

Nora R. Dannehy, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that DAMIEN BRYANT, 35, last residing on Coleman Street in New London, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to 42 months of imprisonment, followed by 10 years of supervised release, for distributing crack cocaine and for violating the conditions of his supervised release from a prior federal conviction.  On January 28, 2008, BRYANT pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of cocaine base (“crack cocaine”).

According to court documents and statements made in court, in May 2007, law enforcement authorities received information that BRYANT and a female associate were selling narcotics from rooms at a motel in East Lyme, Connecticut.  On several occasions from June to September 2007, officers and troopers assigned to the Connecticut Statewide Narcotics Task Force supervised controlled purchases of crack cocaine from BRYANT and his female associate.  On the evening of September 13 and the early morning of September 14, law enforcement authorities executed a search warrant at the motel.  BRYANT was arrested after a clear plastic bag containing 13.7 grams of crack cocaine fell from his pocket after BRYANT jumped from a balcony in order to avoid apprehension.  A search of BRYANT’s motel room revealed nearly 200 grams of powder cocaine, an additional 34.3 grams of crack cocaine, 3.2 grams of marijuana, a black digital scale, several other items used for drug trafficking and $2794 in U.S. currency.

In August 2000, BRYANT was sentenced to 70 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release in U.S. District Court in Rhode Island after pleading to conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine and distribution of crack cocaine.  He was released from the custody of the Bureau of Prisons on March 6, 2005.

Today, Judge Underhill sentenced BRYANT to 24 months of imprisonment for distributing crack cocaine in 2007, and an additional 18 months of imprisonment for violating the conditions of his supervised release stemming from the August 2000 federal narcotics conviction.

BRYANT has been incarcerated since his arrest on October 24, 2007.

This matter was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Connecticut State Police.

This case was prosecuted by Counsel to the United States Attorney John H. Durham, Supervisory Assistant United States Attorney Anthony E. Kaplan, and Assistant State’s Attorney Paul Narducci of the New London State’s Attorney’s Office, who has been cross-designated as Special Assistant United States Attorney in this matter.

CONTACT:

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