Jury Charges 7 in Connection To Massive Counterfit Pill Operation

A jury has charged seven individuals in connection with a massive counterfeit pill network in Connecticut, marking one of the largest cases of its kind in New England.

At a Glance

Seven people were indicted for manufacturing and trafficking counterfeit pills containing synthetic opioids.
The operation allegedly used a pill press capable of producing 100,000 pills per hour.
Counterfeit pills included fake oxycodone, Xanax, and Adderall containing dangerous substances.
Authorities seized hundreds of thousands of pills and manufacturing equipment.

Massive Counterfeit Pill Operation Uncovered

A federal grand jury in Bridgeport, Connecticut, has indicted seven individuals for their alleged involvement in a large-scale counterfeit pill manufacturing and trafficking operation. The suspects, identified as Emanuel Payton, Shawn Stephens, Kelldon Hinton, Heshima Harris, Emanuel Payton, Arnaldo Echevarria, Marvin Ogman, and Cheryle Tyson, face charges related to the production and distribution of fake prescription pills containing dangerous synthetic opioids and other substances.

The investigation, led by the DEA New Haven’s Tactical Diversion Squad and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, revealed that the operation was producing counterfeit oxycodone, Xanax, and Adderall tablets. These fake pills contained methamphetamine, protonitazene, dimethylpentylone, xylazine, and other hazardous substances. Notably, protonitazene, a Schedule I synthetic opioid, is three times more potent than fentanyl, posing a severe threat to public health.

Seven Charged after Federal Investigation Disrupts Massive Counterfeit Pill Manufacturing Operation @DEANewEngland @USPIS_BOS https://t.co/a9D6hoJ4O4 pic.twitter.com/RXGkD4FOSV

— U.S. Attorney CT (@USAO_CT) September 23, 2024

Sophisticated Operation with International Connections

According to authorities, Kelldon Hinton, the alleged ringleader, used a pill press capable of producing 100,000 pills per hour in a rented garage in East Haven, Connecticut. Hinton and his co-conspirators reportedly purchased substances and pill press parts from China, marketing and selling the counterfeit pills on the dark web. The operation shipped over 1,300 packages through the U.S. Mail, distributing these dangerous fake pharmaceuticals across the country.

“This country is in the midst of a catastrophic overdose epidemic where the threat from synthetic opioids and methamphetamine disguised in fake prescription medication remains high,” stated Acting Special Agent in Charge Stephen Belleau, Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division.

On September 5, 2024, law enforcement agencies conducted a coordinated operation, arresting Hinton, Harris, Payton, Stephens, and Echevarria. Searches carried out during the arrests yielded several hundred thousand pills and pill manufacturing equipment. Ogman and Tyson were subsequently added to the indictment and arrested on September 19, 2024.

Severe Charges and Potential Sentences

The charges against the seven individuals include conspiracy to manufacture, distribute, and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and protonitazene. Hinton, as the alleged leader of the operation, faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years to life imprisonment. The other defendants could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

The investigation also linked the counterfeit pills to a recent drug overdose death in Connecticut, underscoring the deadly consequences of this illegal operation. This case highlights the ongoing opioid crisis in the United States. Over 107,500 people died of overdoses last year, a small decrease from 2022.

Collaborative Effort to Combat Drug Trafficking

The successful disruption of this massive counterfeit pill network resulted from a collaborative effort involving multiple agencies, including the DEA, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, FBI, and local police departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren C. Clark and Konstantin Lantsman.

The case has also “resulted in the disruption of a significant trans-national operation and the dismantling of one of the largest illicit manufacturing sites ever located in Connecticut,” said Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the Boston Division for the Postal Inspection Service.

This case serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing battle against synthetic opioids and the importance of law enforcement efforts to disrupt these dangerous operations. U.S. Attorney Vanessa Roberts Avery emphasized the continuing efforts to combat synthetic opioid proliferation through law enforcement, treatment programs, and public awareness campaigns. The U.S. Attorney’s Office and DEA released a public service announcement in March 2024 warning of the dangers of fentanyl and counterfeit prescription pills, highlighting the need for continued vigilance and public education in the face of this deadly epidemic.