Hartford Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl Trafficking Charge

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JAHQUAN BLACKWIN, also known as “Mula,” 27, of Hartford, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to a fentanyl trafficking offense.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in June 2022, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Hartford Task Force began investigating Blackwin and others for distributing fentanyl and cocaine in the Hartford area.  In July and August 2022, investigators made four controlled purchases of fentanyl from Blackwin.

Blackwin was arrested on a federal criminal complaint on August 17, 2022.  On that date, a search of Blackwin’s Judson Street apartment revealed approximately 750 grams of fentanyl, 500 grams of cocaine, 32 grams of crack cocaine, 700 grams of psilocybin, and five kilograms of marijuana.  Investigators also found and seized two loaded Polymer 80 handguns (“ghost guns”), one of which was fitted with a high-capacity magazine, and a loaded Glock 43X handgun.

Blackwin pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, an offense that carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years.  Judge Dooley schedule sentencing for June 6.

Blackwin has been detained since his arrest.

The DEA Task Force includes personnel from the DEA Hartford Resident Office, the Connecticut State Police, and the Bristol, Hartford, East Hartford, Enfield, Manchester, New Britain, Rocky Hill, Wethersfield, and Windsor Locks Police Departments.  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan Keefe.