New Britain Man Sentenced to More Than 5 Years in Federal Prison for Supplying Crack to Hartford Gang

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that MICHAEL CHAPMAN, also known as “Nice” and “Mizzo,” 26, of New Britain, was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge Janet C. Hall in New Haven to 66 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for supplying crack cocaine to a Hartford drug trafficking organization.

According to court documents and statements made in court, this matter stems from a joint law enforcement investigation headed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Northern Connecticut Violent Crimes Task Force and the Hartford Police Department’s Vice and Narcotics Division targeting gang violence and narcotics trafficking in Hartford’s Parkville neighborhood, and related overdoses.  The investigation specifically targeted criminal activity being committed by members and associates of the Orange Street Killas (OSK), which operated principally in the area of Orange, Cherry and Arbor Streets.  The investigation followed a series of reports of shots fired in the area, and a homicide that was committed on Cherry Street in October 2015.  The prosecution was built on court-authorized wiretaps, controlled purchases of narcotics and physical and video surveillance, all of which revealed that OSK members acquired heroin and crack cocaine and then sold the narcotics on the streets of Hartford.

The investigation revealed CHAPMAN converted cocaine to crack cocaine and supplied the drug to the OSK drug trafficking organization for street sale.

On February 10, 2017, investigators arrested CHAPMAN and several of his codefendants.  On that date, a search of CHAPMAN’s New Britain residence revealed a firearm and a quantity of crack.

CHAPMAN has been detained since his arrest.  On November 3, 2017, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine base (“crack”).

CHAPMAN’s criminal history includes convictions for larceny, possession of narcotics, weapon in a motor vehicle, and violation of probation.

Sixteen individuals were charged as a result of the investigation.

This matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Northern Connecticut Violent Crimes Task Force and the Hartford Police Department.  The Task Force includes members of the U.S. Marshals Service, 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 Shooting Task Force have provided valuable assistance to the investigation.

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