Hartford Fentanyl Distributor Sentenced to 67 Months in Federal Prison

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that TROY COLEMAN, also known as “Hoy” and “TJ,” 37, formerly of Hartford and Waterbury, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Janet Bond Arterton in New Haven to 67 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for distributing fentanyl.

According to court documents and statements made in court, an investigation by the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force revealed that Troy Coleman and his brother, Tyshawn Coleman, were selling fentanyl and crack cocaine in Hartford.  In November and December 2020, investigators made five controlled purchases of fentanyl, totaling 900 dose bags of the drug, from Troy Coleman.  As the investigation continued, on April 13, 2021, Troy Coleman was shot multiple times outside of a restaurant located at 2393 Main Street in Hartford.  Coleman, who possessed fentanyl and crack cocaine at the time of the shooting, was released from the hospital approximately one week later.

It is alleged that an undercover law enforcement officer purchased fentanyl from Tyshawn Colman in late April and early May 2021.  On May 5, 2021, investigators conducted a court authorized search of Tyshawn Coleman’s apartment on Sisson Avenue in Hartford, where Troy Coleman also resided.  The search revealed distribution quantities of fentanyl and crack cocaine, items used to process and package narcotics for street sale, a .40 caliber “ghost gun” with a loaded high-capacity magazine, a loaded 9mm pistol with an obliterated serial number, and additional loaded gun magazine, ammunition, and $4860 in cash.  Troy Coleman was located and arrested on unrelated later that day.

Troy Coleman has been detained since his federal arrest on October 4, 2021.  On August 23, 2022, he pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, fentanyl.

Tyshawn Coleman, also known as “Ty” and “Mazi” has been charged by indictment for conduct stemming from this investigation, and is currently being sought by law enforcement.  Individuals with knowledge of his whereabouts are encouraged to call the FBI at 203-777-6311.

As to Tyshawn Coleman, U.S. Attorney Avery stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt.  Charges are only allegations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force and the Hartford Police Department.  The Task Force includes members of the FBI, Hartford Police Department, East Hartford Police Department, New Britain Police Department, West Hartford Police Department, Connecticut State Police and Connecticut Department of Correction.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian P. Leaming and Brendan J. Keefe through Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.