New York Man Sentenced To More Than Three Years In Federal Prison For Distributing Marijuana

Deirdre M. Daly, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ALEXANDER LAPPIN, 34, of Brooklyn, N.Y., was sentenced today by United States District Judge Janet Bond Arterton in New Haven to 37 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for distributing marijuana.  Judge Arterton also ordered LAPPIN to pay a $3,600 fine and to forfeit $105,825.

According to court documents and statements made in court, this matter stems from a Drug Enforcement Administration and Connecticut State Police Statewide Narcotics Task Force investigation into a large-scale marijuana growing and trafficking organization that operated in the greater Danbury area and had ties to New York, Massachusetts, and Vermont.  Between June 2011 and June 2012, the drug trafficking organization conspired to manufacture, sell, and distribute more than 1,000 kilograms of marijuana.

The investigation, which included the use of court-authorized wiretaps, revealed that LAPPIN was selling multi-kilogram quantities of marijuana to Nicolas Calamaras of New Fairfield, who distributed the drug to numerous individuals in the Danbury area.

Thirteen individuals were charged a result of the investigation, during which investigators seized marijuana, more than $520,000 in cash, 10 firearms, vehicles and real property.

LAPPIN was arrested on June 14, 2012.  On that date, investigators seized more than $105,000 in cash from his Brooklyn apartment.

LAPPIN has been detained since his arrest.  On May 13, 2013, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute more than 100 kilograms of marijuana.

Calamaras has pleaded guilty and awaits sentencing.

This matter is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Connecticut State Police Statewide Narcotics Task Force Northwest Office.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Tracy L. Dayton and David X. Sullivan.

PUBLIC AFFAIRS CONTACT:

U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
Tom Carson
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thomas.carson@usdoj.gov