Meriden Man Sentenced to 37 Months in Federal Prison for Distributing Crack

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that JULIUS NELSON, 32, of Meriden, was sentenced yesterday by Senior U.S. District Judge Alfred V. Covello in Hartford to 37 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for distributing crack cocaine.

According to court documents and statements made in court, this matter stems from joint law enforcement investigation headed by the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Violent Crimes Task Force and the Hartford Police Department that targeted a drug trafficking organization operating in Hartford’s North End that was distributing crack and powder cocaine. The investigation revealed that David Gil-Grande, of Manchester, received shipments of cocaine, secreted in sealed coffee cans, from Puerto Rico. He then supplied the cocaine to Anthony Shelton, also known as “Pretty,” and others, who converted much of the cocaine into crack and distributed both forms of the drug in the area of Barbour Street in Hartford. Shelton supplied crack to NELSON who then sold the drug to his own customers.

Twenty individuals were charged as a result of the investigation.

NELSON was arrested on February 2, 2016. On February 7, 2017, he pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine base (“crack cocaine”).

NELSON’s criminal history includes convictions for felony assault, conspiracy to commit robbery, and multiple convictions for selling drugs.

Gil-Grande and Shelton have pleaded guilty to related charges. On January 31, 2017, Gil-Grande was sentenced to 70 months of imprisonment. Shelton awaits sentencing.

This matter has been investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Northern Connecticut Violent Crimes Task Force, which includes members of the Hartford Police Department, East Hartford Police Department, Connecticut State Police and Connecticut Department of Correction. The Hartford Police Department’s Vice and Narcotics Division and the Drug Enforcement Administration have provided valuable assistance to the investigation.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian P. Leaming.