Man Who Was Released from Prison Due to Pandemic Sent Back to Prison for Violating Supervised Release

Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ANTHONY WHITLEY, 38, of New London, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer in New Haven to 18 months of imprisonment for violating the conditions of his federal supervised release.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on March 3, 2017, a court-authorized search of a New London apartment connected to Whitley revealed approximately 14 grams of heroin, approximately 27 grams of cocaine, approximately 150 grams of crack cocaine, items used to process and package narcotics for street sale, a .380 caliber semiautomatic handgun, ammunition and $9,180 in cash.  Whitley pleaded guilty and, on October 23, 2018, was sentenced to 60 months of imprisonment and four years of supervised release.

Whitley, who had been detained since March 3, 2017, was released from prison on September 24, 2020, after Judge Meyer granted Whitley’s motion for compassionate release due to factors related to the COVID-19 pandemic, and modified Whitley’s sentence to time served and four years of supervised release.

On March 15, 2021, New London Police arrested Whitley and charged him with interfering with officers/resisting arrest.  The charge followed Whitley’s flight from police after an alleged controlled purchase of narcotics from him.

Whitley has been detained since May 5, 2021, when his supervised release was revoked.

In addition to his prior federal conviction, Whitley has eight prior state convictions, including felony convictions for drug and firearm offenses.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Natasha M. Freismuth.