Dante Barnes, Fentanyl Trafficking, Connecticut 2019

A Farmington, Connecticut, resident has been handed a 5-year prison sentence for his role in a major fentanyl trafficking operation in Hartford.

Dante H. Barnes, 31, was sentenced to 60 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release, for his crime.

According to court documents, in January 2019, law enforcement received information that Barnes and Jaquan Leggett, also known as ‘Tipsy,’ were trafficking narcotics in Hartford.

The investigation revealed that Barnes and Leggett were using Leggett’s residence on Lenox Street in Hartford to package and store fentanyl and other drugs.

Between January and March 2019, investigators conducted multiple controlled purchases of fentanyl and cocaine from Barnes in Hartford and Farmington.

Barnes and Leggett were arrested on March 5, 2019. On that date, a search of Barnes’ Farmington residence revealed 440 bags of fentanyl, approximately 23 grams of unpackaged fentanyl, approximately 32 grams of crack cocaine, items used to package narcotics for street sale, and $24,160 in cash.

A search of Leggett’s Hartford residence revealed 169 bags of fentanyl, approximately two grams of unpackaged fentanyl, approximately four grams of crack cocaine, approximately two grams of cocaine, and items used to process and package narcotics for street sale.

Barnes has forfeited the cash that was located and seized at the time of his arrest, and a 2007 Audi A6 3.2Q.

Barnes pleaded guilty on October 28, 2019, to one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. He has been detained since December 5, 2019, when his bond was revoked.

This matter has been investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Northern Connecticut Violent Crimes Gang Task Force and the Hartford Police Department.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian P. Leaming.

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