East Hartford Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug Trafficking and Gun Possession Offenses

Marc H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Boston Field Division, announced that WARREN SIMPSON, also known as “Wodi,” 43, of East Hartford, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Sarah F. Russell in Bridgeport to drug trafficking and firearm possession offenses.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in July and August 2024, ATF special agents conducted multiple controlled purchases of cocaine from Simpson in Hartford.  On September 12, 2024, as investigators approached Simpson’s residence on Judson Avenue in East Hartford to execute a federal search warrant, Simpson attempted to flee and tossed bags containing narcotics as he ran.  Investigators apprehended Simpson and recovered the bags.  Searches of Simpson’s residence and vehicle, and the discarded bags, revealed approximately 248 grams of fentanyl, approximately 690 grams of cocaine, drug processing and packaging materials, a .40 caliber Smith & Wesson pistol, and ammunition.

Simpson’s criminal history includes felony convictions in Connecticut for possession of narcotics, larceny, and criminal possession of a firearm.  It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm and ammunition that have moved in interstate or foreign commerce.

Simpson pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and 500 grams more of cocaine, an offense that carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years, and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 15 years.

Simpson is released on a $200,000 bond pending sentencing, which is not scheduled.

This matter is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean P. Mahard.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.