Norwich Man Sentenced to Prison for Role in Heroin Trafficking Ring

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that NEHAMIAH CARROLL, 27, of Norwich, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford to 28 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for trafficking heroin.

According to court documents and statements made in court, this matter stems from an investigation that began after several heroin overdoses in southeastern Connecticut, including two overdose deaths involving a heroin and fentanyl mix that occurred in January 2016.  The investigation, which included court-authorized wiretaps and controlled purchases of narcotics, revealed that Michael Luciano operated a drug trafficking organization that distributed heroin to numerous street-level dealers, including CARROLL, in southeastern Connecticut.

In October and November 2017, investigators surveilled CARROLL as he purchased distribution quantities of heroin from the Luciano organization.  At the time, CARROLL was on state parole for a prior drug offense.  On November 16, 2017, CARROLL was arrested on state charges after investigators observed him making several hand-to-hand drug transactions from a vehicle.  A search of the vehicle revealed approximately five grams of heroin and more than eight grams of crack cocaine.  CARROLL has been detained since his arrest.

On December 12, 2017, a grand jury in Hartford returned a 25-count superseding indictment charging CARROLL, Luciano and 19 other individuals with various heroin trafficking offenses.  On May 1, 2018, CARROLL pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, heroin.

Luciano, of New London, has been detained since his arrest on November 14, 2017.  On June 27, 2018, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, one kilogram or more of heroin.

This matter is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Marshals Service, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, Homeland Security Investigations, Connecticut State Police Statewide Narcotics Task Force East and the New London, Norwich, Waterford, Attleboro (Mass.) and Freetown (Mass.) Police Departments.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys S. Dave Vatti and Jocelyn Courtney Kaoutzanis.