United States Attorney's Office District of Connecticut
Press Release

BRONX MAN SENTENCED TO FEDERAL PRISON FOR ROLE IN SOUTHEASTERN CONNECTICUT DRUG RING

David B. Fein, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that OWEN EDWARDS, 36, of the Bronx New York, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Robert N. Chatigny in Hartford to 24 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for supplying narcotics to a southeastern Connecticut drug trafficking organization.  On September 2, 2010, EDWARDS pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and marijuana.

This matter stems from a joint law enforcement investigation headed by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in conjunction with the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Connecticut State Police, Norwich Police Department, Groton Town Police Department, New London Police Department, Waterford Police Department, the State of Connecticut’s Department of Correction and Office of Adult Probation.  The nine-month investigation included the use of court-authorized wiretaps, controlled purchases of cocaine and crack cocaine, and physical surveillance.  The investigation revealed that, in 2009, Lamont Muller and others were involved in the distribution of large amounts of cocaine, crack cocaine, and marijuana in southeastern Connecticut.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in the summer of 2009, Muller began to reach out to new sources of narcotics supply, including EDWARDS.  Muller and EDWARDS were intercepted on a number of phone calls during which Muller complained about other sources of narcotics “drying up.”  Muller and EDWARDS then agreed to meet in New York.  Subsequent intercepted phone calls and physical surveillance revealed that Muller and EDWARDS met in New York on multiple occasions in September and October 2009, and that Muller acquired cocaine and marijuana from and/or “through” EDWARDS.

On September 24, 2010, Muller pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, 50 grams or more of cocaine base (“crack cocaine”) and a quantity of marijuana and oxycodone.  He awaits sentencing.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Sarah P. Karwan and Anthony P. Kaplan.

CONTACT:

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