EAST HAVEN, Conn. — Nearly three weeks ago, federal agents raided a rented East Haven garage, finding more fake pills in one operation than they ever have in the state’s history.
Now, seven people are facing charges for their alleged involvement in the manufacturing and trafficking of counterfeit pills containing synthetic opioids and other substances.
“We can confidently say this is the largest seizure of counterfeit pills weighing in the hundreds of pounds that we’ve had here in Connecticut,” Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States attorney for the District of Connecticut, said.
Avery was joined by federal partners with Drug Enforcement Administration New England and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service on Monday to announce the arrests.
The following people are all facing charges of conspiracy to manufacture, distribute and to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and protonitazene: Kelldon Hinton, 45, of New Haven; Heshima Harris, 53 of New Haven; Emanuel Payton, 33, of New Haven; Marvin Ogman, 47, of West Haven; Shawn Stephens, 34, of West Haven; Arnaldo Echevarria, 42, of Waterbury; and Cheryle Tyson, 64, of West Haven.
Hinton is facing additional charges, as the alleged leader of the operation. Echevarria has also been charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute protonitazene.
“Investigators determined that Hinton, with the assistance of his co-conspirators, was purchasing protonitazene, dimethylpentylone, xylazine, and other substances, as well as pill press parts from China and elsewhere,” Avery said.
Prosecutors said the details were uncovered in June of 2023, when law enforcement was informed of a counterfeit pill manufacturing and trafficking operation allegedly taking place in a rented East Haven garage on Tyler Street Extension.
Earlier this month, DEA agents raided the garage, finding more than 1 million counterfeit pills overall, two large pill presses and pill manufacturing equipment.
“One of the pill presses seized was capable of producing 100,000 pills per hour,” Avery said, adding the equipment weighed about 2,000 pounds.
Prosecutors said Hinton would first buy a series of controlled substances.
“He would have those delivered to a number of co-conspirators, who would catch the packages for lack of a better term and bring them to his lab where he would then manufacture the pills using the pill press,” Lauren Clark, assistant U. S. attorney, said. “It seemed to be a fairly complex operation, he had kept notes, recipes if you will.”
Clark said Hinton would have local re-distributors either pick them up or the pills would be sold on the dark web, eventually delivered in Connecticut and across the country through the U.S. Postal Service.
While the suspects all face similar charges, with some more severe than others, Avery said more could be brought.
“Law enforcement is currently investigating a drug overdose death that occurred recently in CT. Pills recovered from the scene appear to match those produced by the Hinton organization. A preliminary search of the victim’s cell phone, text messages, reveal that Ogman supplied pills to the victim,” Avery said.
During the announcement, DEA agents reiterated the following message to parents and children throughout the state:
“Close to eight out of 10 pills on the street that are fake contain a lethal dosage. Which means your first and only decision may very well be your last decision,” David Lanzoni, Assistant Special Agent in Charge, DEA New England, said.
According to state statute, Hinton could face anywhere from 10 years to life in prison if found guilty. His alleged co-conspirators could face a maximum of 20 years in prison.
Hinton, Payton and Ogman are currently detained, and Harris, Stephens, Echevarria, and Tyson are released, pending trial.
Julia LeBlanc is a reporter at FOX61 News. She can be reached at jleblanc@fox61.com Follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.
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