East Hartford Man Pleads Guilty to Distributing Crack Cocaine

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JOHN THOMAS MINTER, also known as “Louch” and “Louch Ramsey,” 28, of East Hartford, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in Bridgeport to distributing crack cocaine.

This matter stems from a long-term investigation being conducted by the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Violent Crimes Task Force and Hartford Police Department into narcotics trafficking by members and associates of the Westhell and Team Grease groups and group-related violent activity.

According to court documents and statements made in court, MINTER was a member of Team Grease, which was originally called “Wall Street.”  In April 2015, investigators conducted two controlled purchases of crack cocaine from MINTER.  On April 14, MINTER sold approximately 105 grams of crack in exchange for $2,600 and, on April 24, he sold approximately 248 grams of crack in exchange for $5,200.

MINTER was arrested on April 30, 2015.  On that date, a search of MINTER’s East Hartford residence revealed approximately 62 grams of crack cocaine, approximately 93 grams of powder cocaine and approximately $16,000 in cash.

MINTER pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, 28 grams or more of cocaine base (“crack cocaine”), an offense that carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years.  A sentencing date has not been scheduled.

MINTER has been detained since his arrest.

This matter has been investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Northern Connecticut Violent Crimes Task Force, Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Marshals Service, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division and Hartford Police Department.  The FBI Task Force includes members of the Hartford Police Department, East Hartford Police Department, Connecticut State Police and Connecticut Department of Correction.  The Hartford Police Department’s Vice and Narcotics Squad, Major Crimes Unit and Shooting Task Force, and the Capitol Region Emergency Response Team (CREST) have provided valuable assistance to the investigation.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys John H. Durham and Peter S. Jongbloed.