Hartford Man Sentenced to 57 Months in Federal Prison for Distributing Heroin

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that DRESHAWN NEWTON, also known as “Dre,” 28, of Hartford, was sentenced today by Senior U.S. District Judge Alfred V. Covello in Hartford to 57 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for distributing heroin.

According to court documents and statements made in court, NEWTON’s associate, Joel Gonzalez, also known as “Tuti,” was the focus of an investigation into the distribution of heroin and other controlled substances in and around Hartford by members and associates of Los Solidos and the Latin Kings.  In November and December 2015, the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Violent Crime Gang Task Force and Hartford Police made a total of six controlled purchases of heroin from Gonzalez at 71 Warrenton Avenue and 30-32 Putnam Street in Hartford.  NEWTON participated in one of the controlled purchases on December 4, 2015.  On that date, NEWTON gave 1,000 bags of heroin to an undercover officer in exchange for $2,250.

NEWTON has been detained since his arrest on December 17, 2015.  On September 6, 2017, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, heroin.

Gonzalez pleaded guilty to a related charge and, on January 31, 2018, was sentenced to 77 months of imprisonment.

The FBI Task Force includes members of the Hartford Police Department, East Hartford Police Department, Connecticut State Police and Connecticut Department of Correction.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Gustafson.