Marc H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that Eric Herman, a 32-year-old resident of Bridgeport, has pleaded guilty to drug distribution and firearm possession offenses. The plea was entered before U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in New Haven.
Court documents and statements revealed that after two fatal fentanyl overdoses in 2021 linked to Herman, an investigation was launched by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Bridgeport High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force and Stratford Police Department into his drug trafficking activities. In May and June 2022, controlled purchases of fentanyl, heroin, and crack cocaine were made from Herman.
Herman was arrested on September 15, 2022. At the time of his arrest, he had a distribution quantity of cocaine, a loaded 9mm "ghost gun" with a laser sight attached, and additional ammunition.
His criminal history includes state felony convictions for drug and firearm offenses. Federal law prohibits individuals previously convicted of a felony from possessing firearms or ammunition that have moved in interstate or foreign commerce.
Herman pleaded guilty to two counts of possession with intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine base ("crack"), fentanyl, and heroin; each count carries a maximum imprisonment term of 20 years. He also pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine with a similar maximum sentence and one count of unlawful possession of ammunition by a felon carrying up to 15 years imprisonment.
Detained since his arrest, Herman has also pleaded guilty in state court to narcotics and manslaughter charges related to an overdose death investigation.
The DEA’s HIDTA Task Force comprises personnel from various local police departments including those from Bridgeport, Danbury, Norwalk, Stamford, Stratford as well as the Connecticut State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen L. Peck is prosecuting this case.