New Haven Man Gets 9 Years In Prison On Drug, Gun Conviction: Feds

NEW HAVEN, CT — Donell Allick, Jr., 25, of New Haven was sentenced Monday in U.S. District Court to 115 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for narcotics distribution and firearm possession offenses, according to US Attorney for CT, Vanessa Roberts Avery.

According to Avery and the evidence presented during his trial, between April and October 2022, Allick conspired with others to distribute fentanyl and crack cocaine in the New Haven area. In September and October 2022, law enforcement made controlled purchases of fentanyl from Allick and an associate, the federal prosecutor said. On Oct. 24, 2022, Avery said, investigators conducted a court-authorized search of a Hamden apartment that Allick used. Prosecutors said three loaded handguns with extended magazines, around 73 grams of fentanyl, around 34 grams of crack cocaine, and drug processing and packaging materials for street sale, and $15,000 cash were seized.

A related search of Allick’s car, which had been seen in suspected drug transactions, resulted in the seizure of another loaded handgun with a 30-round extended magazine, quantities of fentanyl and crack cocaine, and $2,144 in cash, according to the US Attorney.

Ballistics analysis of the three handguns found in Allick’s residence revealed that they had been used in six shootings, including two homicides, that occurred between September 13, 2021, and September 16, 2022, Avery said.

Court records show that on March 21, 2023, Allick was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, fentanyl and crack; one count of possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, fentanyl; and one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine base.

The jury found Allick not guilty of possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, a quantity of fentanyl; possession with intent to distribute cocaine base; and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, according to the Justice Department.

After the trial, and before the jury returned its verdict, Allick pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of firearms by a felon, it was noted in a news release.

Allick’s criminal history include state convictions for escape in the first degree, assault in the second degree-serious injury, and carrying a pistol or revolver without a permit, court records show.

Allick, who's been held in jail since his November 2022 arrest, and is currently awaiting trial in a separate federal case.

This investigation was conducted by the DEA New Haven Task Force, the ATF, and the New Haven and Hamden police departments, Avery said.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tara E. Levens and Rahul Kale through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces 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.