United States Attorney's Office District of Connecticut
Press Release

NEW HAVEN MAN PLEADS GUILTY FOR INVOLVEMENT IN CRACK DISTRIBUTION RING

Kevin J. O'Connor, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that HERBERT LOWERY, age 19, of 191 Pine Street, New Haven, Connecticut, pleaded guilty today to using a telephone to facilitate a narcotics transaction, possession with intent to distribute "crack" cocaine and assault on a federal agent with a dangerous weapon. LOWERY'S pleas of guilty were accepted by United State District Judge Alvin W. Thompson in Hartford federal court.

In an indictment returned in September 2002, a grand jury sitting in Hartford charged LOWERY and 18 other individuals with federal narcotics violations. According to information disclosed during court proceedings and documents filed with the court, the charges arose out of an investigation conducted by the New Haven Drug Task Force. It began as an investigation into the distribution of cocaine base, or "crack," in and around the Fair Haven Section of New Haven. As the investigation progressed, it was disclosed that a New York-based source organization was transporting multi-kilogram quantities of crack on a weekly basis to three distribution networks operating in southwestern Connecticut. One of these networks was operated by Richard Mack of 31 Market Street, New Haven. LOWERY and the 18 individuals indicted with him were charged in connection with that operation. Several kilograms of crack and in excess of $350,000 were seized in Connecticut and New York in the course of the investigation.

LOWERY remained at large until June 25, 2003, when he engaged local police and agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration in a midday high-speed chase through the Hill section of New Haven. LOWERY rammed a marked New Haven Police cruiser and a DEA van containing a sworn Task Force agent of the DEA, continued to drive at a high rate of speed the wrong way up a one way street and then onto the sidewalk before he finally crashed his car into a tree, where it stayed. He ran from the vehicle, attempted to hide in the bushes and partially scaled a railroad barrier until he was subdued.

LOWERY is scheduled to be sentenced on March 26, 2004. LOWERY faces a maximum term of imprisonment of four years and a maximum fine in the amount of $250,000 on the use of a telephone charge, a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years and a maximum fine in the amount of $1,000,000 on the possession with intent to distribute crack charge, and a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years and a maximum fine in the amount of $250,000 on the assault of a federal agent with a dangerous weapon charge.

This case was investigated by the New Haven Drug Task Force, which is composed of elements of the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the New Haven and West Haven Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney H. Gordon Hall is prosecuting the case.

CONTACT:

U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
Tom Carson
(203) 821-3722
thomas.carson@usdoj.gov