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Cornelius Coney, Drug & Gun Crime, Waterbury CT, 2023
WATERBURY, CT – Cornelius Coney, a 35-year-old Waterbury man known on the streets as “C Nizzy,” is headed to federal prison after being sentenced to 60 months for a drug and gun violation. U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley delivered the sentence in Bridgeport on April 28, 2023, followed by five years of supervised release. The case, a joint effort between the ATF and Waterbury PD, highlights the ongoing struggle against the flow of illicit drugs and firearms in the city.
The bust originated last July when Waterbury Police recovered a bag from Coney’s towed vehicle. Inside, authorities found a loaded 9mm semiautomatic handgun – later confirmed stolen – along with roughly 50 grams of crack cocaine, approximately 50 doses of fentanyl, and a digital scale used for weighing drugs. The evidence painted a clear picture of a full-fledged drug operation. Forensic analysis definitively linked Coney to the firearm via his DNA, solidifying the case against him.
Coney was initially arrested on September 21, 2021, and has been held without bail ever since. He eventually pleaded guilty on January 3, 2023, to the charge of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The guilty plea avoided a potentially lengthier trial, but the judge wasn’t swayed, imposing the full five-year sentence. Coney’s defense offered no significant mitigating factors at sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Natasha M. Freismuth and John T. Pierpont, Jr. prosecuted the case, building a solid case based on forensic evidence and police work. U.S. Attorney Vanessa Roberts Avery commended the Waterbury State’s Attorney’s Office for their collaboration, emphasizing the importance of interagency cooperation in tackling violent crime. The ATF’s Boston Field Division was instrumental in the investigation.
This prosecution falls under the umbrella of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a Department of Justice program focused on reducing violent crime and gun violence. The program aims to strengthen trust between law enforcement and communities, support violence prevention efforts, and strategically prioritize enforcement. The DOJ launched a renewed focus on PSN in May 2021, hoping to reverse the rising tide of gun violence plaguing many cities.
While Coney’s conviction represents a win for law enforcement, it’s just one battle in a larger war. The streets of Waterbury remain flooded with drugs and illegal firearms, and authorities continue to work tirelessly to dismantle the networks responsible. This case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by drug trafficking and the consequences faced by those who choose to profit from it.
Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Weapons|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Press Release
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