HARTFORD, CT – Jamar Jones, a 35-year-old man formerly of Ansonia and Waterbury, is headed to federal prison for peddling poison. U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea handed down a 51-month sentence today, followed by three years of supervised release and 80 hours of community service, for distributing heroin. The case is another win in a larger, ongoing effort to dismantle narcotics networks flooding Connecticut with deadly drugs.
The bust began in March 2016, when the Ansonia Police Department and the DEA caught wind that Jones, known on the streets as “Mitch,” was slinging heroin around Ansonia and Waterbury. Worse, investigators learned some of the product Jones pushed led to at least one non-fatal overdose. Undercover officers made two controlled buys, confirming the tip. That led to a raid on April 14, 2016, of Jones’s Ansonia residence, where police seized a substantial haul: 66 grams of heroin, 22 grams of crack cocaine, a staggering $17,000 in cash, and three vehicles.
Jones was initially arrested on state narcotics charges and released on a $100,000 bond. But that didn’t stop him. According to court documents, Jones continued to distribute heroin even while out on bail. Investigators conducted additional controlled purchases, and the investigation soon widened to include Alvin Lopes, who was revealed to be working with Jones to push the drugs.
Jones has been cooling his heels behind bars since August 11, 2016. On December 5, 2016, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute heroin and one count of possession with intent to distribute both heroin and crack cocaine. The prosecution, led by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert M. Spector and Jocelyn Courtney-Kaoutzanis, built a solid case showing Jones’s continued involvement in the drug trade despite the initial arrest.
Lopes, of Waterbury, also felt the heat, pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute heroin. He received a 27-month sentence on January 18, 2017. This case highlights the DEA and Ansonia Police Department’s commitment to targeting not just street-level dealers, but the entire network supplying the poison.
Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, stated this case stems from a statewide initiative focused on narcotics dealers distributing heroin, fentanyl, or opioids that cause death or serious injury. The investigation serves as a stark reminder of the devastating impact of the opioid crisis and the relentless efforts of law enforcement to combat it.
Related Federal Cases
- Brooklyn Heroin Dealer Gets 16 Months in CT Overdose Death · New York
- Jelliffe Gets a Year for Deadly Heroin Deal · Connecticut
- Shawn Miller Gets 7.5 Years for Heroin, Crack Ring · Connecticut
- Eros Diaz, 21, Gets 45 Months for Fentanyl, Heroin Sales · Connecticut
- Norwich Heroin Dealer Sentenced in Overdose Death · Connecticut
Key Facts
- State: Connecticut
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: Official Source ↗
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