Feds: Pair found guilty in eastern Conn. drug ring

A federal jury found a southeastern Connecticut drug trafficker and another person guilty of narcotics trafficking and money laundering offenses, prosecutors said.

Anthony “Jack Mac” Whyte, 47, of New London, and Amy Sarcia,

52, of Stonington, were found guilty by a federal jury in Bridgeport. Their trial before Judge Victor A. Bolden began on

Sept. 10. The jury returned the guilty verdicts Tuesday afternoon.

Whyte and Sarcia were found guilty of conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, various narcotics and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Whyte was also found guilty of three counts of possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of various narcotics and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

At sentencing, which has not yet been scheduled, Whyte faces 15 years to life in prison. Sarcia faces 5 to 60 years in prison.

The charges against the two stem from an investigation into the distribution of narcotics and illegal possession of guns in southeastern Connecticut. The investigation included court-authorized wiretaps and controlled purchases and seizures of heroin, cocaine and guns, prosecutors said.

Evidence introduced during the trial indicated that Whyte obtained heroin, fentanyl and cocaine from several sources in Connecticut, New York and other areas, then sold the drugs to members of his trafficking ring, prosecutors said. His co-conspirators then sold the drugs to customers and other street-level dealers.

Sarcia, who sold and used cocaine, accepted drug proceeds from Whyte and provided him with weekly paychecks from her business — Two Wives Brick Oven Pizza in New London — and a federal tax form to try to disguise the narcotics proceeds as employment wages, prosecutors said. Sarcia also took cash from Whyte for allowing him to store and sell drugs at three apartments in a building she managed, prosecutors said.

On Feb. 21, 2019, Whyte, Sarcia and several other co-conspirators were arrested.

That same day, investigators searched Whyte’s New London apartment and found more than 1.5 kilograms of cocaine, 185 grams of heroin, 100 grams of fentanyl and fentanyl pills, 10 guns and about $25,000 in cash, prosecutors said. Several of the 10 guns seized were stolen, authorities said.

Investigators seized additional narcotics, another gun and nearly $20,000 in cash from other members of the drug trafficking scheme.

Twenty-three other individuals charged during this investigation have previously pleaded guilty to related offenses.