Manchester man found with over 3,000 sleeves of fentanyl pleads guilty to federal drug, weapon charges

A Manchester man pleaded guilty to fentanyl distribution and gun possession charges on Wednesday after federal officials reportedly found large amounts of fentanyl and a loaded weapon during a court-authorized search at his home in 2022, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.

Eduardo Colon, 34, of Manchester, pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl before U.S. District Judge Omar A. Williams in Hartford on Wednesday, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

On June 3, 2022, the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force reportedly made a purchase of 1,000 wax sleeves of fentanyl from Colon in front of his home on Buckland Hills Road in Manchester, according to court records. Later that day, federal officials conducted a search of his home and reportedly seized 2,100 sleeves of fentanyl, approximately 250 grams of unpackaged fentanyl and a loaded 9mm semiautomatic handgun, court records said.

Colon faces a maximum of 40 years in prison on the drug charge. Due to his previous felony convictions, it is a violation of federal law for him to possess a firearm. The weapons charge carries a maximum term of 10 years in prison, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.

A sentencing date has yet to be scheduled, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.