New Haven Man Sentenced to 51 Months in Federal Prison for Distributing Crack

 John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that RONNIE GORDON, also known as “Pop,” 39, of New Haven, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant in Hartford to 51 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for distributing crack cocaine.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in June 2017, the FBI’s New Haven Safe Streets/Gang Task Force initiated an investigation into a New Haven drug trafficking organization headed by Jermayne Butler.  The investigation, which included physical surveillance, 13 controlled purchases of narcotics, and court-authorized wiretaps on multiple phones, revealed that members of the organization were distributing crack cocaine and oxycodone in the New Haven area.

Between August and November 2017, investigators made six controlled purchases of crack from Butler.  A subsequent wiretap investigation revealed that Butler was obtaining bulk quantities of crack from others and distributing the drug through a network of street-level dealers, including Gordon.  Butler also conspired with others to distribute oxycodone.

Gordon has been detained since his arrest on February 6, 2018.

On February 8, 2018, a grand jury in New Haven returned a 30-count indictment charging Butler, Gordon and 17 other individuals with various offenses.  All have been convicted.

On August 26, 2019, Gordon guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, cocaine base (“crack”).

Gordon’s criminal history includes multiple state convictions for drug, assault and firearms offenses.

On August 10, 2020, Butler was sentenced to 78 months of imprisonment.

This matter has been investigated by the FBI’s New Haven Safe Streets/Gang Task Force, which includes members from the New Haven Police Department, Milford Police Department, West Haven Police Department and Connecticut Department of Correction.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patrick F. Caruso and David C. Nelson.