Friday, October 30, 2020

Heroin Trafficker Sentenced to 6 Years in Federal Prison

 John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that BRIAN HANNA, also known as “Zo,” 52, of Brooklyn, New York, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Janet C. Hall in New Haven to 72 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release, for trafficking heroin.

According to court documents and statements made in court, this matter stems from a joint investigation headed by the DEA New Haven Task Force and the Waterbury and Naugatuck Police Departments into a heroin and cocaine trafficking operation headed by Keith Jordan of Waterbury.  The investigation, which included the use of court-authorized wiretaps, physical surveillance and controlled purchases of narcotics, revealed that Jordan was receiving large quantities of heroin from various suppliers, including Hanna, and selling to drug to other distributors and street-level customers.  Jordan also purchased and distributed cocaine.

On March 13, 2019, a grand jury in Hartford returned an indictment charging Hanna, Jordan, and 27 other individuals with various offenses related to the distribution of heroin, fentanyl, cocaine and crack cocaine.

On March 21, 2019, in association with the arrest of several of Hanna’s codefendants, investigators seized approximately 3,000 bags of heroin, 400 grams of cocaine, 350 grams of fentanyl/heroin mixed, 400 grams of heroin, 10 grams of crack, 20 pounds of marijuana, fentanyl patches, a one-kilogram press, four handguns, approximately $120,000 in cash and four vehicles.

Hanna was arrested in Texas on April 19, 2019.  On November 7, 2019, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, 100 grams or more of heroin. 

Hanna, who is released on a $200,000 bond, is required to report to prison on December 16, 2020.

Jordan pleaded guilty to related charges and awaits sentencing.

This investigation has been conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration New Haven Task Force, Waterbury Police Department and Naugatuck Police Department, with the critical assistance of the U.S. Secret Service, New York Field Office.  The DEA New Haven Task Force includes participants from the U.S. Marshals Service, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, and the New Haven, Hamden, West Haven, North Haven, Branford, Ansonia, Meriden, Derby, Middletown, Naugatuck and Waterbury Police Departments.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys S. Dave Vatti and Nathaniel J. Gentile.

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