New Britain Man Sentenced to 66 Months in Prison for Distributing Fentanyl

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that RODNEY KINCAID, 36, formerly of New Britain, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to 66 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for distributing fentanyl and other controlled substances.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in late December 2015, the DEA’s Hartford Task Force and New Britain Police Department received information that Kyle Petersen, of New Britain, was selling fentanyl powder, prescription pills and marijuana. DEA Task Force Officers and the New Britain Police Department Special Services Unit initiated an investigation and made multiple controlled purchases of fentanyl from Petersen. The investigation, which included court-authorized wiretaps, revealed that John Casadei, of Morris, used the darknet, an internet network that can only be accessed through the use of specific software or authorizations, to purchase large quantities of fentanyl that were shipped from China. Casadei also obtained and distributed various prescription pills, including Xanax and oxycodone. Casadei then supplied fentanyl and various prescription pills to Jared McBriarty, of Bristol, who in turn supplied them to Petersen. Petersen distributed the drugs to other individuals, including KINCAID, who sold them throughout central Connecticut.

On April 18, 2016, KINCAID was arrested on related state charges after he purchased approximately 28 grams of fentanyl from Petersen.

Petersen, Casadei, McBriarty and other individuals involved in this narcotics distribution ring were arrested on May 19, 2016. On that date, law enforcement searched a New Britain residence that Petersen used as a stash location and seized approximately $740,000 in cash, approximately 3.2 kilograms of MDMA (commonly known as “ecstasy”), and more than 40,000 Xanax pills. A search of Petersen’s residence revealed additional quantities of narcotics and more than $11,000 in cash. Law enforcement subsequently seized approximately $80,000 from Petersen’s bank account.

KINCAID has been detained since his arrest.. On April 26, 2017, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, fentanyl.

Petersen, Casadei and McBriarty pleaded guilty to related charges. On July 19, Petersen was sentenced to 120 months of imprisonment. Casadei and McBriarty await sentencing.

The Drug Enforcement Administration’s Hartford Task Force includes personnel from the DEA Hartford Resident Office and the Bristol, Hartford, East Hartford, Manchester, New Britain, Rocky Hill, Wethersfield, Windsor Locks and Willimantic Police Departments. Agencies assisting the investigation include the U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Homeland Security Investigations, New Britain State’s Attorney’s Office and Connecticut State Police.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney S. Dave Vatti.