Bridgeport Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug Charge
| U.S. Attorney’s Office November 19, 2009 |
Nora R. Dannehy, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that CLAUDE LEE, also known as “Claude Blaube,” 48, of Lindley Street, Bridgeport, pleaded guilty today before United States District Judge Christopher F. Droney in Hartford to one count of maintaining a drug involved premises.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in August 2006, LEE permitted others to unlawfully manufacture, store or distribute controlled substances, including marijuana, crack cocaine and heroin, at 33-35 Hewitt Court in Bridgeport, a residence he maintained.
Judge Droney has scheduled sentencing for February 5, 2010, at which time LEE faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years and a fine of up to $500,000.
As part of his guilty plea, LEE has agreed to forfeit $6,567 in cash that was recovered from the location, and also to pay approximately $10,000 in restitution to United Illuminating for electricity he stole to grow large quantities of marijuana in the residence.
This matter has been investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Connecticut State Police and the Bridgeport Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Tracy Dayton, Alina Reynolds, and Peter Markle.