East Hartford Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Federal Prison for Drug and Gun Offenses

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that DAVID QUINTANA, 36, of East Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer in New Haven to 60 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release, for fentanyl distribution and firearm possession offenses.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in March and April 2023, investigators made multiple controlled purchases of fentanyl from David Quintana, and his brother, Edgar Quintana. David and Edgar Quintana were arrested on April 17, 2023. On that date, a search of David Quintana's residence revealed two .40 caliber handguns that had been reported stolen, one 9mm handgun with an obliterated serial number, and 250 rounds of ammunition. A search of Edgar Quintana's residence revealed distribution quantities of fentanyl, cocaine, and crack cocaine.

David Quintana's criminal history includes felony convictions for narcotics offenses. It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce.

On December 27, 2023, David Quintana pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, 40 grams or more of fentanyl and a quantity of cocaine, and one count of possession of firearms by a felon.

David Quintana, who is released on bond, is required to report to prison on January 3.

Edgar Quintana pleaded guilty and awaits sentencing.

This investigation was conducted by the DEA's Hartford Task Force, which includes personnel from the DEA Hartford Resident Office, the Connecticut State Police, and the Bristol, Hartford, East Hartford, Enfield, Manchester, New Britain, Rocky Hill, Wethersfield, and Windsor Locks Police Departments.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan J. Keefe and Robert S. Dearington through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.