Former Hamden Resident Sentenced to 20 Months in Federal Prison for Trafficking Prescription Narcotics, Violating Supervised Release

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that DENZEL SUGGS, 30, formerly of Hamden, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Sarala V. Nagala in Hartford to 20 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for his role in a New Haven area drug trafficking ring, and for violating the conditions of his supervised release that followed a previous federal conviction.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in June 2022, the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force initiated an investigation into a drug trafficking organization that was operating in the Fair Haven neighborhood of New Haven.  The investigation included the use of court-authorized wiretaps, physical surveillance, and several controlled purchases of fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, and crack cocaine.  The investigation also identified individuals, including Kelvin Alvarado, who were acquiring and distributing prescription narcotic pills.  During the investigation, Suggs, who was on federal supervised release, sold prescription pills to Alvarado.

Suggs was arrested on October 10, 2023.  On April 18, 2024, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, controlled substances.  He has been detained since October 31, 2023.

In January 2022, Suggs was sentenced in Bridgeport federal court to approximately six months of imprisonment, time served, and three years of supervised release, for unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.

Judge Nagala sentenced Suggs to 10 months of imprisonment for the drug offense, and a consecutive 10 months of imprisonment for violating the conditions of his supervised release.

Alvarado, also known as “Kelz” and “Kel Bucks,” of New Haven, has pleaded guilty and awaits sentencing.

This investigation, which resulted in federal charges against 12 individuals, has been conducted by FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force, which includes members from the FBI, the Connecticut State Police, the Connecticut Department of Correction, and the New Haven, Milford, East Haven, West Haven, and Wallingford Police Departments.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brendan J. Keefe and Geoffrey M. Stone through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program.  OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.  Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.