Clayton Carney, a.k.a. “Hardcore,” 38, of Hamden, was sentenced on Friday in Bridgeport to 77 months in prison, followed by four years of supervised release, for his role in a narcotics distribution ring.
Carney’s activities came to light during an FBI New Haven Safe Streets Task Force and the New Haven Police Dept investigation into drug distribution and related violence allegedly being committed by Grape Street Crips in New Haven.
The investigation revealed that Carney conspired with Donald Ogman, leader of the Grape Street Crips, to purchase quantities of cocaine from their respective dealers, convert the cocaine to crack and then sell the crack to customers and other street-level distributors.
Carney’s criminal history includes several state felony drug convictions.
Carney has been detained since his arrest on April 11, 2012. On March 24, 2014, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, 28 grams or more of cocaine base (“crack cocaine”).
A total of 18 individuals were charged as a result of this investigation, and all have pleaded guilty. Ogman and several other defendants await sentencing.
Carney was sentenced by Senior US District Judge Warren Eginton, and the sentencing was announced by Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of CT.
This matter is being investigated by the FBI’s New Haven Safe Streets Task Force, which includes the New Haven, Hamden and Milford Police Departments, the Connecticut State Police and the State of Connecticut Dept of Correction. The investigation has been assisted by the U.S. Marshals Service and the Westerly (R.I.) Police Dept. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anthony E. Kaplan and H. Gordon Hall.