On Jan 2, a Stamford drug dealer was sentenced to 20 years in prison. His conviction is the result of his role in a cocaine trafficking ring in southwestern Connecticut.

Another individual involved in the ring, a 31-year-old man, will be serving eight years of supervised release based on the ruling of a U.S. District Judge. A federal jury has found him guilty of one count of possession with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of crack cocaine, and one count of conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of crack cocaine on Dec. 13, 2010.

A spokesman for the U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut issued a statement and, according to him, the 31-year-old man was arrested as part of "Operation Big Loot." This was a six-month operation spearheaded by the Stamford police Narcotics and Organized Crime Squad, the ATF, and the DEA. At the conclusion of the investigation, 52 arrests with charges in state and federal courts were the results. The arrests were for various narcotics offenses.

According to the spokesperson, the police seized one kilogram of cocaine, two kilograms of crack cocaine, five firearms, approximately $165,000 in cash, and several cars. The convict traveled 11 times between Stamford and the Bronx, New York between Sept. and Nov. 2009 to purchase nearly 550 grams of crack cocaine for redistribution purposes, according to court documents.

The man has been in detention since his Dec. 3, 2009 arrest. He has received multiple prior state convictions, and had been on probation for the sale of narcotics. When his home was raided, the police found 94 grams of crack cocaine, as well as nearly $2,300 in cash.

It is important to realize that a strong defense is necessary to ensure that police officers and prosecutors do not overreach their authority, particularly in drug cases. Drug convictions can significantly interfere with a person's future, and must be taken seriously.

Source: Danbury News Times, "20-year sentence for crack dealer," January 9, 2012.