News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 23, 2004

Hartford Felon Faces Minimum
of 20 Years in Federal Prison

JUL 23 - Mark R. Trouville, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration in New England and Kevin J. O'Connor, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that TROY LEON COLEMAN, age 37, of Hartford, Connecticut, was convicted today by a Bridgeport federal jury of distributing 50 grams or more of cocaine base ("crack cocaine") on February 14, 2003, in Hartford.

The trial began July 19, and the jury returned its verdict after one day of deliberation. Coleman has previously served time in federal prison for a firearms violation.

The evidence established that on February 14, 2003, Coleman met with and sold 2.25 ounces of crack cocaine to a witness cooperating with the Drug Enforcement Administration and Hartford Police Department. Some of the conversations between Coleman and the cooperating witness were tape recorded.

COLEMAN faces a minimum term of imprisonment of 20 years and a maximum term of life imprisonment when he is sentenced by United States District Judge Janet C. Hall on October 21, 2004.

"We are pleased with the jury's verdict, which would not have been possible without the excellent cooperation between the DEA and the Hartford Police Department that permitted the successful investigation and prosecution of this case," United States Attorney O'Connor stated.

U.S. Attorney O'Connor noted that this investigation and prosecution stemmed from a joint effort last year to target persistent offenders in Hartford's Cabot Street area.

This case was investigated by Special Agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration and Detectives of the Hartford Police Department.