Hamden Man Sentenced to 30 Months in Prison for Distributing Crack

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that Deandre Barnes, also known as “D-Man,” 24, of Hamden, was sentenced today by Senior U.S. District Judge Warren W. Eginton in Bridgeport to 30 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release, for distributing crack cocaine.

According to court documents and statements made in court, this matter stems from an investigation conducted by the FBI New Haven Safe Streets Task Force and the New Haven Police Department into drug distribution and related violence allegedly being committed by members and associates of the Grape Street Crips in New Haven.

On April 9, 2012, a grand jury returned an indictment charging Barnes and 17 other individuals with narcotics distribution offenses stemming from this investigation. On October 16, 2013, Barnes pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine base (“crack cocaine”).

Eight defendants are awaiting trial, which is currently scheduled for March 2014. With respect to these defendants, U.S. Attorney Daly stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This matter is being investigated by the FBI’s New Haven Safe Streets Task Force; the New Haven, Hamden, and Milford Police Departments; and the state of Connecticut Department of Correction. The investigation has been assisted by the U.S. Marshals Service and the Westerly (Rhode Island) Police Department.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anthony E. Kaplan and H. Gordon Hall.