WINDSOR, CT – Michael Lee, 26, of Windsor, is headed to federal prison for 70 months after admitting to flooding Connecticut streets with counterfeit oxycodone pills laced with fentanyl. U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden handed down the sentence Wednesday, along with a four-year supervised release term, for the drug trafficking conspiracy. The case, a joint effort between multiple federal and local agencies, exposed a pipeline funneling lethal narcotics into the state.
Federal investigators with the DEA New Haven Tactical Diversion Squad uncovered a sophisticated operation led by Lee and his brother, Alexander Lee. Court documents revealed the pair sourced thousands of fake oxycodone pills containing fentanyl from the west coast, distributing them to street-level dealers and customers across Connecticut. The investigation utilized wiretaps, controlled buys, and intercepted packages shipped via the U.S. Mail.
The Lees weren’t just dealing in fake pills. In February 2022, they traveled to California and shipped a package containing approximately 18,000 fentanyl pills disguised as oxycodone back to Alexander Lee’s Windsor home. Three months later, they made another trip and sent a package to an associate in Bloomfield, which contained 1,800 tablets of Xanax, reportedly manufactured in Mexico. The operation also yielded a substantial haul of other contraband: 25 pounds of marijuana, seven firearms, and thousands in cash were seized.
A search of Michael Lee’s residence in June 2022, following the brothers’ arrest, turned up over 1,000 more counterfeit oxycodone pills, a small amount of prescription Xanax, and a loaded .45 caliber pistol with an extended magazine. Lee pleaded guilty in November 2023 to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. He was released on a $100,000 bond and is scheduled to report to prison on April 24.
Alexander Lee, 26, already received a 60-month sentence in September 2023 after pleading guilty to the same charge. The prosecution, led by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren C. Clark and Stephanie T. Levick, was conducted through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program, a multi-agency initiative focused on dismantling drug trafficking organizations. The DEA Tactical Diversion Squad involved personnel from multiple police departments including Bristol, East Windsor, Hamden, New Britain, and others.
This case underscores the deadly consequences of fentanyl trafficking. Authorities warn that even a small amount of the potent opioid can be lethal. The investigation serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing efforts to disrupt the flow of illicit drugs into Connecticut and hold those responsible accountable. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut, led by Vanessa Roberts Avery, continues to prioritize cases involving fentanyl and other dangerous narcotics.
Related Federal Cases
- Gilbert Ramirez, Fentanyl Trafficking, California 2024 · Illinois
- Kyle Petersen & Erik Petersen, Fentanyl Trafficking, Connecticut 2024 · Connecticut
- New Britain Man Sentenced to 11 Years for Fentanyl, Cocaine Trafficking · Iowa
- Wallace Best, Fentanyl Trafficking, Connecticut 2024 · Alabama
- Michael Johnson, Marijuana Trafficking, New York 2022 · California
Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Press Release
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