NORWICH MAN GETS PRISON TERM FOR HEROIN TRAFFICKING

A 27-year-old Norwich man was sentenced Monday in U.S. District Court in Hartford to 28 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release for trafficking heroin.

Nehemiah Carroll, who authorities said was a street-level dealer in a drug distribution organization operated in southeastern Connecticut by Michael Luciano of New London, had pleaded guilty in May to one count of conspiracy to distribute, and to possession with intent to distribute, heroin.

Federal authorities said they began investigating after several heroin overdoses in southeastern Connecticut, including two overdose deaths involving a heroin and fentanyl mix that occurred in January 2016.

In October and November 2017, investigators conducted surveillance on Carroll as he purchased distribution quantities of heroin from the Luciano organization. At the time, he was on state parole for a prior drug offense. On Nov. 16, 2017, he was arrested on state charges after investigators observed him making several hand-to-hand drug transactions from a vehicle. A search of the vehicle revealed approximately 5 grams of heroin and more than 8 grams of crack cocaine.

He has been in custody since his arrest.

On Dec. 12, 2017, a grand jury in Hartford returned a 25-count superseding indictment charging Carroll, Luciano and 19 other individuals with various heroin trafficking offenses.

Luciano, of New London, has been detained since his arrest on Nov. 14, 2017. On June 27, 2018, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, one kilogram or more of heroin. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 20.

This matter is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Marshals Service, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, Homeland Security Investigations, Connecticut State Police Statewide Narcotics Task Force East and the New London, Norwich, Waterford, Attleboro, Mass. and Freetown, Mass. police departments.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys S. Dave Vatti and Jocelyn Courtney Kaoutzanis.