Standford Smith, a 35-year-old Hartford resident also known as "Pops," has been sentenced to 69 months in prison. U.S. District Judge Alvin W. Thompson handed down the sentence for narcotics distribution and firearm possession offenses, along with violations of supervised release conditions from a previous federal conviction.
Smith's legal troubles began in March 2021 when he was sentenced to 55 months in prison followed by four years of supervised release for his involvement in a gun trafficking ring and crack cocaine distribution. He was released from prison in February 2022.
On June 2, 2023, Smith was arrested by Hartford Police at a motel parking lot on West Service Road. At the time of arrest, he had a loaded Ruger LCP Max .380 caliber firearm and more than 30 fentanyl pills, approximately 23 grams of crack cocaine, and a digital scale were found in his vehicle.
Federal law prohibits individuals previously convicted of felony offenses from possessing firearms or ammunition that have traveled through interstate or foreign commerce.
Since his arrest, Smith has been detained. On July 9, 2024, he pleaded guilty to charges including possession with intent to distribute cocaine and fentanyl and unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.
Judge Thompson sentenced Smith to serve 57 months for the narcotics and firearm offenses and an additional consecutive term of 12 months for violating supervised release conditions.
The investigation leading to Smith's sentencing was conducted by the Hartford Police Department alongside the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Patricia Stolfi Collins prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which aims to reduce gun violence and other violent crimes through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and communities. The Justice Department launched an enhanced violent crime reduction strategy under PSN in May 2021 focusing on community trust, strategic enforcement priorities, and violence prevention measures.