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Press Release

New Haven Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing Firearm in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Connecticut

Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that TREA FRASER, 27, of New Haven, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty yesterday before U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford to possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in 2020, the FBI New Haven Safe Streets Gang Task Force and the West Haven Police Department began investigating the narcotics trafficking activity of Fraser and another individual.  Between October and December 2020, investigators made controlled purchases of crack cocaine from Fraser.  On February 9, 2021, a search of Fraser’s residence revealed quantities of crack cocaine and heroin, ammunition and $3,900 in cash.  A search of his vehicle revealed approximately 100 grams of cocaine and a loaded .45 caliber Glock 41 handgun.

Judge Shea scheduled sentencing for February 11, 2022, at which time Fraser faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of life imprisonment.

Fraser has been detained since his arrest on a federal criminal complaint on March 1, 2021.

This matter is being investigated by the FBI New Haven Safe Streets Gang Task Force and the West Haven Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Konstantin Lantsman.

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.

Updated November 18, 2021

Topics
Project Safe Neighborhoods
Drug Trafficking
Firearms Offenses