Hartford Dealer Admits to Deadly Fentanyl Trafficking

NEW HAVEN, CT – Another Hartford resident is facing a lengthy federal sentence after admitting to pushing poison onto the streets. Tyrick Thomas, 35, pleaded guilty today in New Haven federal court to one count of possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, a charge that carries a mandatory minimum of five years behind bars and a potential maximum of forty.

The bust went down July 16, 2024, when law enforcement executed a search of Thomas’s Ashley Street residence. What they found wasn’t just a stash – it was a cocktail of misery. Approximately 88 grams of a substance tested positive for methamphetamine, fentanyl, and the animal tranquilizer xylazine, a dangerous combination increasingly turning up in street drugs and contributing to overdoses. But the haul didn’t stop there.

A subsequent search of Thomas’s vehicle uncovered nearly 200 wax folds containing fentanyl and xylazine, ready to be peddled. Loose fentanyl was also seized, adding to the significant quantity already recovered from his home. The combined weight of the drugs points to a substantial trafficking operation, fueled by callous disregard for the lives at risk.

United States Attorney David X. Sullivan for the District of Connecticut announced the guilty plea, a result of a coordinated investigation led by the DEA New Haven Task Force, with support from the ATF and the New Haven Police Department. The Task Force is a multi-agency beast, pulling in resources from the U.S. Marshals Service, IRS – Criminal Investigation Division, Connecticut State Police, and a dozen local police departments.

Thomas has been cooling his heels in jail since his arrest and is scheduled to be sentenced on October 22. Assistant U.S. Attorney John T. Pierpont, Jr. is prosecuting the case under the umbrella of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a federal program aimed at reducing gun violence and overall crime. PSN brings together law enforcement and communities, but it’s a band-aid on a gaping wound when the supply of deadly drugs like fentanyl continues to flood our cities.

The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on the sentencing. This bust, while significant, is just one drop in the bucket of the ongoing opioid crisis. The demand for these drugs remains high, and until that changes, dealers like Thomas will continue to profit from addiction and death. For more information on Project Safe Neighborhoods, visit www.justice.gov/psn.

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