Woman Sentenced For Phoning In Cocaine Deal

A 31-year-old New London woman has been sentenced to just over one year in federal prison for using a cell phone in a drug transaction.

Lawanna Costello was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison by United States District Judge Robert N. Chatigny in Hartford, according to an announcement by David B. Fein, U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut. Costello must also serve one year of supervised release.

The conviction stemmed from a nine-month investigation that included the use of court-authorized wiretaps, controlled purchases of cocaine and crack cocaine, and physical surveillance. It concluded in 2009 that Lamont Muller and others were involved in the distribution of large amounts of cocaine, crack cocaine, oxycodone and marijuana in southeastern Connecticut. Muller was last month, and another man, , was sentenced to 60 months in prison in January.

Costello was accused of ordering cocaine over a co-defendant's wiretapped cell phone. On Dec. 15, she pleaded guilty to one count of using a telephone to facilitate the commission of a drug trafficking felony. 

This matter stems from a joint law enforcement investigation 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.

The joint law enforcement investigation was headed by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and worked with the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Connecticut State Police, Norwich Police Department, Groton Town Police Department, , Waterford Police Department, the State of Connecticut’s Department of Correction and Office of Adult Probation. 

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