Winsted Man Sentenced for Selling Heroin to Teen Overdose Victim

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ANTHONY HUNT, 20, of Winsted, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant in Hartford to 12 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for selling heroin to a teen overdose victim. 

This matter stems from an ongoing statewide initiative targeting narcotics dealers who distribute heroin, fentanyl or opioids that cause death or serious injury to users.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on June 2, 2017, at approximately 5:41 p.m., members of the Connecticut State Police responded to a family-owned boat in Washington, Connecticut, on the report of a 17-year-old male in cardiac arrest.  Attempts to revive the victim were not successful and he was pronounced deceased.  Law enforcement officers seized various drug and non-drug evidence from the boat, including suspected heroin, miscellaneous pharmaceutical pills and an iPhone.

The State of Connecticut Medical Examiner determined that the victim died from toxicity associated with a number of controlled substances, including heroin and alprazolam (Xanax).

The investigation, which has included witness interviews and analysis of the seized iPhone, revealed that Hunt sold heroin and Xanax to the victim between May 17 and June 1, 2017, and that the victim traveled to Winsted to purchase drugs from Hunt the day before the victim died.

Hunt was arrested on a criminal complaint on March 22, 2018.  On September 13, 2018, he pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, heroin.

This matter was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration New Haven Task Force and the Connecticut State Police.   The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jocelyn Courtney Kaoutzanis.