NEW HAVEN, CT – Eric Yopp, 34, known on the streets as “E-Love,” is headed to federal prison after being sentenced to 21 months for distributing cocaine in New Haven. U.S. District Judge Robert N. Chatigny handed down the sentence today, followed by three years of supervised release. The case is a stark reminder that drug dealing, even at the street level, carries serious consequences.
The bust was the result of a long-running investigation by the FBI’s New Haven Safe Streets/Gang Task Force and the New Haven Police Department, targeting the “Island Brothers” street gang and their associates. The probe wasn’t limited to New Haven, however; investigators discovered the organization had a base of operations in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. The investigation broadened, unearthing a second drug network involved in large-scale heroin distribution. It’s a testament to how these operations often bleed across state lines.
Federal prosecutors presented evidence gleaned from court-authorized wiretaps and controlled narcotics purchases, detailing Yopp’s role in acquiring and pushing cocaine. A 15-count indictment was initially returned by a New Haven grand jury on July 9, 2019, charging 25 individuals. Yopp and another suspect were later added via a superseding indictment on November 25, 2019. The scope of this operation speaks to a deeply entrenched network.
Yopp was taken into custody on November 26, 2019, caught with approximately two grams of cocaine and the tools of the trade – items used to process and package the drugs for street sales. He’s been locked up ever since, awaiting sentencing. On June 10, 2020, he pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, cutting a deal to avoid more severe charges.
The sentencing took place via videoconference, a consequence of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. While the method of delivery changed, the sentence remains firm. This case was a multi-agency effort, involving the Milford, Hamden, and East Haven Police Departments, Connecticut State Police, Connecticut Department of Correction, and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anthony E. Kaplan, Peter D. Markle, and Elena L. Coronado prosecuted the case, building a solid case against Yopp and others involved in the drug network. The message is clear: federal law enforcement is actively targeting drug trafficking organizations in Connecticut and beyond, and those involved will face the full weight of the law.
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Key Facts
- State: Connecticut
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Organized Crime|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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