Bloomfield Man Sentenced to 87 Months in Federal Prison for Drug and Gun Offenses

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that PHILLIP GARCIA, also known as “Flip,” 50, last residing in Bloomfield, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford to 87 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release, for narcotics distribution and firearm possession offenses.

According to court documents and statements made in court, an investigation by the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force revealed that Garcia sold cocaine, as well as fentanyl disguised as oxycodone pills, through a network of associates in the Hartford area.  The investigation also revealed that Garcia unlawfully possessed firearms.  Between July and December 2020, investigators made multiple controlled purchases of fentanyl pills and cocaine from Garcia and his associates.  Investigators also acquired from Garcia two handguns, one of which was stolen, and firearm magazines.

Garcia was arrested on December 16, 2020.  On February 14, 2022, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and 500 grams or more of cocaine, and one count of possession of a firearm by a felon.

Garcia has been detained since his arrest.

Judge Shea also ordered Garcia to forfeit his 2018 Cadillac XTS, and $19,472 in cash.

The FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force includes members of the Hartford Police Department, East Hartford Police Department, New Britain Police Department, West Hartford Police Department, Connecticut State Police and Connecticut Department of Correction.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Konstantin Lantsman and Brian Leaming, through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program.  OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.  Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.