Winsted man gets prison in fatal overdose case

HARTFORD — A Winsted man was sentenced to a year in prison Wednesday for selling heroin to “a teen overdose victim,” federal authorities said.

In addition to the prison time, Anthony Hunt, 20, also must complete five years of supervised release, according to a release from Connecticut U.S. Attorney John H. Durham.

The case results from an ongoing statewide initiative targeting narcotics dealers who distribute heroin, fentanyl or opioids that cause death or serious injury to users, according to the release.

Further, according to court documents and statements made in court, at about 5:41 p.m. on June 2, 2017, the Connecticut State Police responded to a family-owned boat in Washington, Conn., after receiving a report of a 17-year-old male in cardiac arrest. “Attempts to revive the victim were not successful and he was pronounced deceased,” the release said. “Law enforcement officers seized various drug and non-drug evidence from the boat, including suspected heroin, miscellaneous pharmaceutical pills and an iPhone.”

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner later determined the victim died from toxicity associated with a number of controlled substances, including heroin and alprazolam, or Xanax, the release said.

The investigation found that Hunt sold heroin and Xanax to the victim between May 17 and June 1, 2017, and that the victim traveled to Winsted to purchase drugs from Hunt the day before the victim died, the release said.

Hunt was arrested on March 22, 2018 and on Sept. 13, 2018 pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, heroin, the release said.