Federal Grand Jury Indicts 3 Hartford Men on Gun and Drug Offenses

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that a federal grand jury in Hartford returned three indictments yesterday charging three Hartford residents with various drug and firearm offenses.

A three-count indictment alleges that, on September 7, 2017, DAQUAN PATTERSON-GREENE, 22, possessed a Glock 22 .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol, as well as cocaine, ecstasy and marijuana with the intent to distribute these drugs.  Prior to that date, PATTERSON-GREEN had sustained felony convictions for first-degree assault and possession of a pistol without a permit.

It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce. 

The indictment charges PATTERSON-GREEN with one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, MDMA (“ecstasy”) and marijuana, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years; one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and offense that carries a mandatory consecutive sentence of five years of imprisonment, and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.

PATTERSON-GREEN has been detained since his arrest on a federal criminal complaint on September 7.

A one-count indictment charges TYSHAWN COLEMAN, 28, with unlawful possession of ammunition by a convicted felon.

The indictment alleges that, on August 5, 2017, COLEMAN possessed a .45 caliber live round.  Prior to that date, COLEMAN had sustained two felony convictions for conspiracy to commit murder, three felony convictions for accessory to first-degree assault, one felony conviction for first degree assault, and one felony conviction for sale of a controlled substance.

If convicted of the charge, COLEMAN faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.

COLEMAN has been detained since his arrest on a federal criminal complaint on August 5.

A one-count indictment charges WILLIAM MARRERO-BENITEZ, 24, with possession of heroin with intent to distribute.

The indictment alleges that, on December 14, 2016, MARRERO-BENITEZ possessed heroin that he intended to distribute.  At the time of the alleged offense, MARRERO-BENITEZ was serving a term of supervised release from a prior federal conviction.

If convicted, MARRERO-BENITEZ faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years on the heroin distribution offenses, and an additional term of imprisonment if he is found to have violated the conditions of his federal supervised release.

MARRERO-BENITEZ has been detained in state custody since his arrest by Hartford Police on December 14.

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.

These cases are being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Violent Crimes Task Force, and the Hartford Police Department.  The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Gustafson and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney John F. Fahey of the Hartford State’s Attorney’s Office.