An East Hartford resident, Warren Simpson, known as "Wodi," has pleaded guilty to federal drug trafficking and gun possession charges, as announced by Marc H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF Boston Field Division. Simpson, 43, appeared before U.S. District Judge Sarah F. Russell in Bridgeport and waived his right to be indicted.
Court documents and statements presented in court reveal that, in July and August 2024, ATF agents conducted controlled purchases of cocaine from Simpson in Hartford. On September 12, 2024, as authorities approached Simpson’s residence on Judson Avenue in East Hartford to execute a federal search warrant, Simpson attempted to flee, discarding bags containing narcotics in the process. He was subsequently apprehended, and investigators recovered the bags. Further searches of Simpson’s residence and vehicle, along with the retrieved bags, unveiled approximately 248 grams of fentanyl, roughly 690 grams of cocaine, drug processing and packaging tools, a .40 caliber Smith & Wesson pistol, and ammunition.
Simpson’s criminal record includes felony convictions in Connecticut for possession of narcotics, larceny, and criminal possession of a firearm. Federal law prohibits individuals previously convicted of a felony from possessing firearms or ammunition that have moved through interstate or foreign commerce.
Simpson has admitted guilt to one count of possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and 500 grams or more of cocaine, a charge carrying a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and a maximum of 40 years in prison. He also pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, for which he faces a maximum imprisonment term of 15 years.
Simpson is currently released on a $200,000 bond, awaiting sentencing, which has not yet been scheduled.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is leading the investigation of this case, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean P. Mahard handling the prosecution.
This case is linked to Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative by the Department of Justice aimed at reducing violent crime. PSN brings together varied stakeholders to pinpoint and solve the most pressing violent crime issues in communities. The program prioritizes enforcement against the most violent offenders and collaborates with local prevention and reentry initiatives to achieve sustained crime reduction.