Bridgeport Man Sentenced to 3 Years in Federal Prison for Distributing Heroin to Monroe Overdose Victim

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that CAREEM BENTLEY, also known as “C-Lows,” 35, of Bridgeport, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Alvin W. Thompson in Hartford to 36 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for distributing heroin to an overdose victim.

This matter stems from 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 statements made in court, on November 23, 2016, Monroe Police and emergency medical personnel responded to a residence in Monroe on a report of a suspected drug overdose.  At the scene, responders encountered an unresponsive 37-year-old male lying on the floor.  The male was pronounced deceased.  Investigators seized the victim’s cellphone, multiple folds of suspected heroin, and other items, and subsequently concluded that the victim purchased heroin from BENTLEY in the late evening of November 22, 2016.

BENTLEY was arrested on a criminal complaint on April 26, 2017.  On August 14, 2017, he pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of heroin.

This matter was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New Haven Task Force and the Monroe Police Department.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas P. Morabito.