Hartford Crack Dealer Sentenced to Nine Years in Federal Prison

David B. Fein, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that Jaeqwan Sheppard, also known as “Quanny” and “Q,” 20, of Hartford, was sentenced yesterday by United States District Judge Janet C. Hall in New Haven to 108 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for distributing crack cocaine.

According to court documents and statements made in court, this matter stems from Operation Vinefield, a joint law enforcement investigation headed by the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Violent Crimes Task Force targeting narcotics trafficking and gang violence in Hartford’s North End. As a result of the nine-month investigation, 38 individuals were charged with various offenses related to the distribution of crack cocaine and the unlawful possession and dealing of firearms in and around Hartford.

Sheppard was identified as a member of the AVE street gang who operated a drug trafficking organization from his residence at 117-119 Enfield Street. Investigators made several controlled purchases of narcotics from Sheppard and subsequently obtained court authorization to intercept calls on two of his wireless phones.

In addition, investigators negotiated the purchase of a .38 caliber revolver from Sheppard in December 2011.

During the investigation, intercepted calls indicated that Sheppard’s associate, Kewan Woodson, may have been targeted by a rival group operating in the Garden Street area of Hartford. On January 10, 2012, four men were shot in front of Sheppard’s 117-119 Enfield Street residence. Images from fixed surveillance cameras revealed that two shooters arrived on the scene by foot and shot into a crowd with a rifle and a shotgun. Woodson was in the area before the shooting but left moments before the gunmen arrived.

On January 4, 2013, Sheppard pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, 28 grams or more of cocaine base (“crack cocaine”).

This matter has been investigated by the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Violent Crimes Task Force, the Connecticut State Police, the Hartford Police Department, and the Connecticut Department of Correction. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Brian P. Leaming.