Former State Judicial Marshal Pleads Guilty to Heroin Distribution Offense

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ADAM CLARKE, 37, of Norwich, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty today in Bridgeport federal court to one count of conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, heroin.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in 2017, law enforcement conducted a long-term investigation into the distribution of drugs in the Norwich and New London area.  On multiple occasions in October 2017, Clarke was intercepted on a court-authorized wiretap discussing the distribution of heroin and prescription narcotics.  Clarke was working as a state judicial marshal at the time of this conduct.

The investigation revealed that Clarke received prescription pills from a known drug dealer while he was at work, assisted the drug dealer in avoiding detection by law enforcement by identifying law enforcement actions and vehicles, and agreed to broker at least one heroin transaction between the drug dealer and a third party.

Clarke is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport on January 17, 2019, at which time he faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.

Clarke is released pending sentencing.  He is no longer employed as a state judicial marshal.

This matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Norwich, Waterford and Town of Groton Police Departments.  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David C. Nelson.