New Haven Register (New Haven, CT)
Feds: New Haven man pleads guilty to drug dealing
A New Haven man who pleaded guilty this week to a federal narcotics distribution charge faces up to 20 years in prison when he is sentenced, according to federal authorities.
James Lee, 24, of New Haven, pleaded guilty Tuesday before U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to possession with intent to distribute heroin, cocaine and cocaine base, or crack, federal authorities said in a statement.
New Haven police approached Lee on March 13, 2021 as he was sitting in a car at a gas station, and that car had fled from police on March 8, federal authorities said in the statement, citing court documents and statements made in court.
“A search of Lee’s person revealed $3,815 and a search of the car revealed $3,443,” federal authorities said in the statement. “Officers then found a hidden compartment in the vehicle’s center (console) that contained heroin, crack and cocaine packaged for distribution, and a loaded
9mm handgun.”
Then, on April 5, 2021, a New Haven police detective in an unmarked police cruiser in the area of
Orange and Wall streets in New Haven, identified another car that had fled from West Haven police during an attempted traffic stop on April 1, federal authorities said in the statement.
The detective followed the car to Brown Street, “where he observed occupants of the vehicle engage in what appeared to be street-level drug transactions, and then to a location on Elm Street,” federal authorities said in the statement.
“On Elm Street, James Lee, who had been released on bond, and Darryl Russell exited the car and entered a building. Lee was arrested after he exited the building. Russell ignored commands not to leave the scene but was apprehended a short distance away after he was found hiding in a trash can,” federal authorities said in the statement. “A search of their car revealed heroin, crack and cocaine packaged for distribution, and more than $2,000 in cash.”
Lee has been in custody since April 5; Dooley scheduled sentencing for Dec. 21, 2021, federal authorities said in the statement.
Russell, 32, also of New Haven, has been detained since his arrest on May 21, 2021. “On that date, he possessed additional narcotics packaged for distribution,” federal authorities said in the statement.
Russell pleaded guilty in federal court on Sept. 14 to possession with intent to distribute, heroin, cocaine and cocaine base and is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 7, according to federal authorities.
The case was investigated by the New Haven Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation; it is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathaniel J. Gentile.