Crime & Safety

New London Woman Sentenced To 4 Months For Drug Trafficking

She was part of crack cocaine distribution operation, investigators said.

Amber Harris, 29, of New London, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Robert N. Chatigny in Hartford to four months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for her role in a southeastern Connecticut drug trafficking organization, according to a press release. 

Chatigny also ordered that Harris must spend the first nine months of her term of supervised release in home confinement with electronic monitoring.

According to the press release:

Find out what's happening in New Londonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Harris assisted Donald Gatlin’s crack cocaine distribution operation.  Harris contacted Gatlin on a regular basis to obtain eighth-ounce quantities of crack (“eight balls”) for her own customers, and also facilitated other sales of crack on behalf of Gatlin.  Harris and Gatlin frequently centered their narcotics trafficking activities from 107 Federal Street in New London, the residence that Harris shared with her sister, Tiffany Harris, Gatlin’s girlfriend and also a member of the conspiracy.

The nine-month investigation was headed by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in conjunction with the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Connecticut State Police, Norwich Police Department, Groton Town Police Department, New London Police Department, Waterford Police Department, the State of Connecticut’s Department of Correction and Office of Adult Probation. It included the use of court-authorized wiretaps, controlled purchases of cocaine and crack cocaine, and physical surveillance.  The investigation revealed that, in 2009, Lamont Muller, Donald Gatlin and others were involved in the distribution of large amounts of cocaine, crack cocaine, oxycodone and marijuana in southeastern Connecticut.

Find out what's happening in New Londonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

According to court documents and statements made in court,

On September 9, 2010, Amber Harris pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of cocaine base (“crack cocaine”).

On October 6, 2010, a jury found Gatlin guilty of six counts of possession with intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine base and cocaine.  On May 26, 2011, he was sentenced to 66 months of imprisonment.

Tiffany Harris pleaded guilty and, on September 13, 2010, she was sentenced to three months of imprisonment.

On September 24, 2010, Lamont Muller, also known as “Dell,” pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, 50 grams or more of cocaine base and a quantity of marijuana and oxycodone.  On March 30, 2011, he was sentenced to 135 months of imprisonment.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Sarah P. Karwan and Anthony P. Kaplan.

 


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.