Hartford Man Admits Pleads Guilty to Drug Trafficking Charge (DOJ)

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that DEJAVAHN WATKIN, 25, of Hartford, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in New Haven to a narcotics trafficking charge.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on October 1, 2024, the Drug Enforcement Administration's Hartford Task Force executed a court-authorized search warrant at Watkin's apartment on Broad Street in Hartford. The search revealed approximately 38 grams of loose fentanyl, approximately 1,800 wax folds of fentanyl, quantities of cocaine and crack cocaine, items used to process and package narcotics, a loaded Glock .22 caliber handgun, and $18,362 in cash. Watkin was arrested at that time. Investigators subsequently recovered a loaded Stag Arms Stag-15 rifle that they determined Watkin had thrown from a window as they were about to enter his apartment.

Watkin pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and a quantity of cocaine, an offense that carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years. A sentencing date is not scheduled.

Watkin has been detained since his arrest.

The DEA's Hartford Task Force includes personnel from the DEA Hartford Resident Office, the Connecticut State Police, and the Bristol, Hartford, East Hartford, Enfield, Manchester, Middletown, New Britain, Rocky Hill, Wethersfield, and Windsor Locks Police Departments. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has assisted the investigation.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney A. Reed Durham.