Hartford’s ‘Hollywood’ Sentenced to Over Six Years for Narcotics and Gun Possession

GRIMY NEWS FLASH: The DEA has made a major bust in Hartford, Connecticut, sentencing Jonathan Contrera, also known as ‘Hollywood’, to over six years in federal prison. The hard-hitting drug trafficker was caught with a cache of drugs and firearms.

According to Acting United States Attorney Leonard C Boyle, Contrera’s sentence includes 78 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release. This comes after his state conviction for sale of narcotics, which saw him sentenced to ten years in prison, suspended after three years, along with three years of probation.

Contrera’s criminal history doesn’t stop there. He also pleaded guilty to negligent homicide, a charge reduced from murder due to missing witnesses. After serving time for the shooting, he was released in June 2018. Just a year later, while on state probation, he faced new charges related to cocaine, oxycodone, and marijuana possession.

Investigators’ work paid off in September and October 2019 when they conducted controlled purchases of crack cocaine from Contrera. His arrest followed a sale of approximately 3.5 grams of the drug. A search of his car turned up another 3.5 grams, while his residence revealed a massive stash of drugs and a stolen revolver loaded with ammunition.

Since his federal arrest in October 2019, Contrera has been detained. In May 2021, he pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, as well as possession of a firearm by a felon.

The investigation was a joint effort by the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force and the Hartford Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian P. Leaming prosecuted the case, which is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program aimed at reducing violent crime through comprehensive community-based solutions.