Glastonbury Man Sentenced to 9 Years in Federal Prison for Bath Salt Trafficking Offense

David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that HARRISON ELBA, 35, formerly of Glastonbury, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to 108 months of imprisonment, seven years of supervised release, and a $5,000 fine for possessing with intent to distribute dimethylpentylone, commonly known as “bath salts.”

According to court documents and statements made in court, on October 19, 2019, Judge Underhill sentenced Elba to five years of probation for his role in a narcotics distribution conspiracy.  In June 2023, Judge Underhill granted Elba’s motion for early termination of his probation, which claimed his rehabilitation was “complete.”

In 2023, an investigation revealed that Elba possessed with intent to distribute bath salts at the John Fitch Distilling Company, a business he operated in South Windsor.  On May 2, 2023, investigators seized approximately 10 kilograms of the drug from the business.  Elba was arrested on September 14, 2023, and was detained until October 9, 2024, when he was released on bond.

On January 10, 2025, Elba pleaded guilty pursuant to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and admitted additional conduct, including:

• Between April and June 2023, Elba operated a drug manufacturing facility in Bloomfield where he and others manufactured and distributed psilocybin mushrooms and THC products, along with large quantities of bagged marijuana intended for distribution.
• In approximately March 2021, Elba arranged to purchase 200 pounds of marijuana from two individuals in Vermont.  Instead of making the purchase, Elba and others travelled to Vermont to rob the two individuals.  Elba met the individuals in a hotel room, confirmed their possession of the marijuana, and left as his associates entered the room and took the marijuana by force.
• In approximately November 2022, Elba received and distributed 10 kilograms of cocaine.
• In 2023, Elba picked up approximately six guns belonging to one his associates and delivered them to another person who could store them.
• In December 2024, Elba arranged for the mailing of a book to an inmate at the Wyatt Detention Facility in Rhode Island, knowing that certain pages of the book were laced with synthetic cannabinoids.

The investigation further revealed that while he was released on bond, Elba is alleged to have engaged in a scheme to smuggle drugs, cellular phones, and other contraband into a federal correctional institution (FCI) in Ray Brook, New York using drones.  On January 10, 2025, shortly after Elba pleaded guilty and continued to be released on bond, he communicated with an FCI Ray Brook inmate and said “I literally just got out of my guilty plea.  I pled guilty.  My guidelines were 97 to 121.  My judge is like the best judge in Connecticut.  He sentenced me five years ago….  I thought I might go back to jail today….”  Elba and the inmate also discussed the drone smuggling scheme.

Elba has been detained in state custody since April 23, 2025, on charges related to his operation of the Bloomfield drug factory.

The drone smuggling scheme is currently under investigation by federal authorities.

This matter was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration New Haven Tactical Diversion Squad with the assistance of the South Windsor Police Department, Bloomfield Police Department, Glastonbury Police Department.  The DEA New Haven Tactical Diversion Squad is composed of personnel from the DEA, and the Bristol, West Haven, Fairfield, Glastonbury, Seymour, and Torrington Police Departments.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Konstantin Lantsman and Katherine Boyles.