Bridgeport Man Charged with Narcotics and Firearm Offenses

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that a federal grand jury in Bridgeport has returned a six-count indictment charging LYNWOOD COGDELL, 32, of Bridgeport, with firearms and narcotics offenses.

The indictment was returned on July 2, 2019.  Cogdell appeared today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Donna F. Martinez in Hartford and entered a plea of not guilty to the charges.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on May 1, 2015, Cogdell pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of possessing of a firearm by a convicted felon.  On March 15, 2016, he was sentenced to 36 months of imprisonment and three years of supervise for that offense.  He was released from federal prison in June 2018.

It is alleged that, on August 10, 2018, while on supervised release, Cogdell possessed heroin, which he intended to distribute, along with a .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol.  It is further alleged that, on April 15, 2019, Cogdell possessed heroin and fentanyl, which he intended to distribute, and a different .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol.

The indictment charges Cogdell with two counts of possession of narcotics with intent to distribute, which carry a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years on each count; two counts of possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, which carry mandatory consecutive terms of imprisonment of at least five years on each count, and two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, which carry a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years on each count.

Cogdell faces additional penalties if he is found to have violated the conditions of his supervised release.

Cogdell has been detained since his arrest on April 15, 2019.

U.S. Attorney Durham stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt.  Charges are only allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This matter is being investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service, Stamford Police Department, Bridgeport Police Department, and Connecticut State Police.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren C. Clark.

This prosecution has been brought through Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make neighborhoods safer for everyone.