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HARTFORD DRUG DEALER SENTENCED TO SEVEN YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON; Second significant sentence resulting from the spring 2003 federal crackdown on Enfield Street.

Kevin J. O'Connor, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced today that Ricky ELLIS, a.k.a. "Arab," age 30, of Hartford, Connecticut, was sentenced to 84 months of incarceration, followed by four years of supervised release, for selling "crack" cocaine in Hartford. Senior United States District Judge Alfred V. Covello imposed sentence today in Hartford federal court.

On September 25, 2003, ELLIS pleaded guilty and admitted that he distributed crack cocaine on Enfield Street in the north end of Hartford.

The investigation of the case revealed that ELLIS was a long time Hartford drug dealer who sold crack cocaine on Enfield Street in the north end of the city. Previously, Harvey Ramsey, a.k.a. "Breaker," who was also a long time drug dealer on Enfield Street, was sentenced to nine years' imprisonment. On January 9, 2004, Dana Adams, another Enfield Street drug dealer, pleaded guilty to selling crack. He is presently incarcerated and his sentencing is scheduled for March 29, 2004 at 3:00 p.m. before United States District Judge Stephan Underhill in Bridgeport federal court.

U.S. Attorney O'Connor noted that the convictions of ELLIS, Ramsey and Adams were a result of the combined effort between state and federal authorities to address crime in the north end of Hartford. "We are committed to combating the problems of drug distribution and use in the capital city," U.S. Attorney O'Connor stated. "In this case, we responded to members of the community who indicated that drug sales on Enfield Street were a problem that needed to be addressed. The substantial sentence imposed on this defendant reflects the serious consequences that face all of Hartford's drug dealers."

U.S. Attorney O'Connor complimented the investigative efforts of the FBI and the Hartford Police.

Assistant United States Attorney Raymond F. Miller, who is a member of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force, is prosecuting these cases. ###