Parolee charged with operating a drug factory

BRIDGEPORT — A local man on parole for gun and drug convictions was charged after police said they found him with a loaded gun and a drug factory in his home on Tuesday.

Tony Felton, 36, of Pitt Street, was charged with operating a drug factory, stealing a firearm, criminal possession of a firearm, possession of narcotics with intent to sell, possession of a large magazine and possession of a controlled substance.

“Police keep investigating me for things I am not doing. I’m a drug addict,” Felton complained Wednesday during his arraignment hearing.

But Assistant State’s Attorney Edward Lee Miller said the state has a strong case against Felton “for similar offenses that he is currently on parole for.”

He urged Superior Court Judge Peter McShane to set a high bond.

Although Felton is already being held for allegedly violating his parole, the judge ordered him held in lieu of an additional $100,000 bond.

On Tuesday, acting on a tip, members of the Police Department’s Narcotics and Vice Unit went to Felton’s home. They found him sitting outside in a 2019 Chrysler sedan, police said.

Inside the car, police said they found a 9mm pistol with an extended magazine loaded with 17 bullets and a small bag of what appeared to be marijuana.

When detectives subsequently searched Felton’s apartment, police said they allegedly found ammunition, 10 bundles containing 33 grams of heroin, bags containing 30 grams of cocaine and 401 grams of marijuana and drug processing materials including a scale.

In 2014, Felton was sentenced to four years in prison, followed by four years of special parole, after being convicted of gun and drug charges, according to court records.