Former Connecticut Resident Sentenced to Three Years for Crack Distribution Conspiracy

Contact: Joel B. Casey
Assistant United States Attorney
Tel: (207) 945-0373

Bangor, Maine:  United States Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II announced that Torrence Benton, a/k/a “T-Black,” a/k/a “Scotty,” 28, formerly of New Haven, Connecticut was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. to three years in prison and three years of supervised release for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute and to distribute cocaine base, commonly referred to as “crack.”   This sentence is in addition to the 34 months that Benton has already served in the Maine State Prison on a related state charge.

According to court records, the defendant was a member of the Red Side Guerilla Brims (“RSGB”), a New Haven based street gang affiliated with the Bloods street gang. Between January 2010 and August 2013, Benton conspired with other RSGB gang members and Bangor area residents to distribute crack in Bangor area.  In early 2013, he came to the Bangor area and began distributing crack.  He obtained crack from other members of the conspiracy who brought it to Maine from New Haven and he was held responsible for distributing over 62 grams of it for $50 per half gram and $100 per gram.  On April 7, 2013, the defendant was arrested by Old Town Police on state charges and found to be in possession of about 10 grams of crack.
     
The case was investigated by the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (New Haven Office); the New Haven Police Department; and the Old Town Police Department.

A related racketeering case against other members of RSGB is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert Spector and Peter Markle in the District of Connecticut.