Branford Man Pleads Guilty to Distributing Heroin Related to Woman's Overdose

Branford, CT — Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced Thursday that Ryan Budd, 25, formerly of Bethel, waived his right to indictment and pleaded guilty on to one count of possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of heroin.

The plea comes after an ongoing statewide initiative targeting narcotics dealers who distribute heroin, fentanyl or opioids that cause death or serious injury to users, Daly said.

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According to court documents and statements made in court, Danbury Police responded to a report of a woman in medical distress in the restroom of a bathroom on on March 1, 2016, at approximately 11:39 p.m. Police found the woman on her knees, face on the floor, gasping for breath and holding a syringe.
She was transported to the hospital, where she was placed on life support and has since recovered from the overdose, police said.

Court documents showed that officers collected a second syringe, three folds of heroin and two cell phones at the scene and identified Budd as the source of the supply of heroin.

Daly said that Budd, who currently lives in Branford, was arrested on March 9, 2016, and was released on a $100,000 bond. Sentencing will be on September 29, 2016. If convicted, Budd faces a maximum term of 20 years imprisonment.

This investigation is being conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New Haven Tactical Diversion Squad, the Danbury Police Department and the Wilton Police Department. The Task Force includes participants from the New Haven, Hamden, Greenwich, Shelton, Bristol, Vernon, Wilton, Milford, Monroe, Fairfield and Middlebury Police Departments, and the Connecticut State Police. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas P. Morabito.