New Haven Man Charged with Crack Cocaine Distribution Offenses

Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that a federal grand jury in Hartford has returned an indictment charging ZAQUAWN ARRINGTON, 22, of New Haven, with three counts of possession with intent to distribute cocaine base (“crack”).

The indictment was returned on July 27.  Arrington appeared yesterday via videoconference before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert A. Richardson and pleaded not guilty to the charge.  Arrington has been detained since July 21.

As alleged in court documents, on January 9, 2021, Arrington was arrested by West Haven Police after they found him in possession of crack cocaine packaged for distribution and $763 in cash.  Subsequent analysis of an iPhone seized from Arrington at the time of his arrest revealed multiple photos and videos of firearms, including photos of Arrington possessing firearms.

It is further alleged that on June 22, 2021, New Haven Police attempted to stop a vehicle being operated by Arrington, but Arrington fled at a high rate of speed.  On July 6, 2021, New Haven Police located Arrington and arrested him.  At the time of his arrest, Arrington possessed crack cocaine packaged for distribution and $580 in cash.

Arrington was arrested on a federal criminal complaint on July 21, 2021.  A search of Arrington’s residence on the date of his arrest revealed crack cocaine packaged for distribution, a digital scale, and $2,075 in cash.  It is further alleged that, the following day, a court-authorized search of a parked vehicle that Arrington had been seen accessing revealed a loaded ghost gun.

If convicted, Arrington faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years on each count of the indictment.

Acting U.S. Attorney Boyle stressed that an indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt.  Charges are only allegations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s New Haven Safe Streets/Gang Task Force, the New Haven Police Department and the West Haven Police Department.  The Task Force includes members from the Connecticut State Police, Connecticut Department of Correction and the New Haven, Milford, East Haven and West Haven Police Departments.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys John T. Pierpont, Jr. and Natasha M. Fresimuth

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.