Manchester Man, 15 Others, Arrested in Federal Drug Trafficking Probe

The suspects are from Hartford and a few surrounding towns, including Manchester, Windsor, Unionville and Bloomfield.

According to a U.S. Justice Department press release, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives uncovered a drug dealing operation lead by Luther Nance, a 27-year-old resident of both Willimantic and Windsor.

Federal authorities said Nance and his associates allegedly sold crack cocaine and heroin in several Connecticut towns utilizing bases of operation in East Hartford, Hartford and Willimantic.

On June 27 a federal grand jury returned a 51-count indictment charging Nance — who also goes by "Papers" and "Cash" — and 15 others in connection with the drug dealing.

Also arrested were:

ANTOINE ARMOUR, a.k.a. “Slim,” 22, of East Hartford
FABIAN AUGUSTINE, a.k.a. “J” and “Fabe,” 23, of East Hartford
JAMES BROWN, a.k.a. “Decky,” 23, of East Hartford
MORGAN GILL, a.k.a. “Teck,” 23, of Hartford
MICHAEL GLENN, 29, of Wethersfield
KALONI GOODLEY, a.k.a. “Scrap,” 22, of Hartford
LEESA GRANT, 21, of Hartford
ALONZO HAMILTON JR., a.k.a. “Al,” 20, of Manchester
JAHMELL HARDING, 27, of Hartford
ANTHONY HARRINGTON, a.k.a. “Tone,” 28, of Bloomfield
MONTRELL HUFF, 35, of Unionville
WANDA SOTO, 25, of Willimantic
TYKWELL WALTON, a.k.a. “Money,” 20, of Hartford
RAYSHEQUIA WELLS, 20, of East Hartford   

Nance, Armour, Augustine, Brown, Gill, Hamilton, Soto and Walton are each accused of attempting to sell 280 grams or more of crack cocaine. They each face a minimum of 10 years in prison.

Glenn, Goodley, Grant, Harding, Harrington, Huff and Wells are each charged with attempting to sell 28 grams or more of crack cocaine. They face a minmum prison sentence of 5 years each if convicted.

All of those arrested, except Brown, also each faces at least one count of possession with intent to distribute narcotics. Harding also faces a charge of possessing a firearm after investigators discovered him in possession of an unregistered 12-gauge shotgun.

Another person, 32-year-old David Lyn of Hartford, was also charged in a separate indictment with possessing and selling cocaine base.

All of the defendants are now in federal custody.

Acting U.S. Attorney Deidre M. Daly said she commends the ATF and the federal, state and local law enforcement who assisted in the investigation, among them the Hartford, Willimantic, East Hartford, Enfield and Middletown police departments.

“The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to using the full weight of federal law to prosecute narcotics traffickers to make our communities safer," Daly said.

“ATF’s top priority is to combat violent crime and keep communities safe,” said ATF Acting Special Agent in Charge Croke. “The charges announced today are a prime example of what happens when ATF and our law enforcement partners work together – we successfully target, disarm and remove violent criminals from the neighborhoods in which they operate.”