Major opioid dealer sentenced to 10 years

BRIDGEPORT » Kyle Petersen’s arrest in May 2016 was lauded by federal prosecutors as the largest fentanyl bust in state history.

On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Stephan Underhill sentenced Petersen to 10 years in federal prison for his role in leading the fentanyl distribution ring.

Underhill said that while he gave Petersen, 31, the lowest sentence he could, he wanted to him to think about the number of grieving families that could have been in the courtroom if a loved one had died from a fentanyl overdose.

“Fentanyl has become the unintended suicide of choice,” Underhill said. “We need to get this drug off the street and we need to get the people dealing this drug into prison.”

There were no overdoses that federal prosecutors pointed to as connected to this case, but U.S. Attorney Deirdre Daly said after his arrest in May 2016 that her office believed Petersen, who is from New Britain, and his team were some of the biggest suppliers of fentanyl in the state.

“We believe that this groundbreaking investigation has identified a major supplier of fentanyl in our state,” Daly said in a release at the time of Petersen’s arrest. “Fentanyl is a highly dangerous synthetic opioid which can be up to 50 times more potent than heroin. In the wrong hands, it’s deadly.”

Upon Petersen’s arrest, federal authority seized close to $800,000 from his possession. That has since been forfeited to the government along with half of the two-family home he owned.

Petersen pleaded guilty earlier this year to one count of possession with intent to distribute and distribution of fentanyl. Because the quantity exceeded 400 grams, it was determined by federal statute that his sentence could range from 10 years to life.

The investigation, which included court-authorized wiretaps, revealed that a Morris resident used the “darknet,” an internet network that can only be accessed through the use of specific software or authorizations, to purchase large quantities of fentanyl that were shipped from China. The man also obtained and distributed various prescription pills, including Xanax and oxycodone. He then supplied fentanyl and various prescription pills to a Bristol man who in turn supplied them to Petersen, the U.S. attorney’s office reported.

Petersen distributed the drugs to other individuals who sold them throughout central Connecticut.

Underhill did not go above the minimum sentence because he said with Petersen’s criminal history, no more than 10 years was necessary. But, he said, he did want to impress upon the seriousness of the conduct and that the law states Petersen could have received a life sentence.

“You could go away forever for doing what you did,” Underhill said. “Don’t think about doing it again.”

While Petersen did not speak on his own behalf, his lawyer, Elliot Warren, argued that Petersen entered the drug dealing world to feed his own habit and to make enough money to feel secure in his future. Much of his proceeds, Warren said, Petersen used to help support his parents, his wife, and her family.

“What you have here is a young man who had no security and no guidance,” Warren said.

Petersen’s wife, who asked not to be named, was present for the sentencing Wednesday. The couple’s daughter, who was born after Petersen was arrested, was also present.

Warren described a difficult childhood for Petersen that involved his father abusing drugs and his siblings serving prison sentences because of their own drug use.

According to Warren, Petersen’s