A Rocky Hill man has been sentenced to 5 years in prison for trafficking fentanyl, according to federal authorities.
Sean Thomas, 32, was also sentenced by U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant in Hartford to 4 years of supervised release, according to federal authorities.
Federal authorities, citing court documents and statements made in court, said Hartford police were investigating Thomas and others for distributing fentanyl and marijuana in 2020. “As part of the investigation, an undercover agent purchased marijuana from an employee from Puff Paradise, a smoke shop on New Britain Avenue owned by Thomas,” federal authorities said in a statement.
In June 2020, “in anticipation of executing multiple search warrants,” investigators watched Thomas drive from Rocky Hill to Kenneth Street in Hartford, then got into a Dodge Durango, according to federal authorities.
“Believing that Thomas was conducting a narcotics transaction, detectives approached Durango,” federal authorities said in the statement. “Tafarie Green, the driver of the vehicle, accelerated and drove straight at the detectives who jumped out of the way. Green then drove at high speed onto a curb and through two link fences before crashing into a tree .”
Green fled, but Thomas was arrested and a search of Puff Paradise turned up about three pounds of marijuana, the release said. “A search of Thomas’ residence revealed more than 100 grams of unpackaged fentanyl, approximately 3,500 bags of packaged fentanyl, items used to process and package narcotics for street sale, and $16,511 in cash.”
Thomas pleaded guilty to a charge of possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl on Jan. 20, according to the release.
Green was arrested on July 13, 2020, and pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a felon, according to the release. He was sentenced to 62 months in prison on August 31, 2021.
