United States Attorney's Office District of Connecticut
Press Release

Federal Drug "Demand Reduction" Initiative: WATERBURY MAN SENTENCED FOR POSSESSION OF COCAINE

Kevin J. O'Connor, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that DAVID VANWAGNER, age 42 of 29 Geddes Terrence, Waterbury, Connecticut, was sentenced today to two years of probation and fined $1,500 as a consequence of his earlier entered plea of guilty to possession of cocaine. Sentence was imposed by United States District Judge Janet C. Hall in federal court in Bridgeport.

U.S. Attorney O'Connor explained that VANWAGNER was arrested on March 25, 2004, on a criminal complaint charging him with possession of cocaine. VANWAGNER was one of several drug purchasers intercepted during a wiretap investigation of a Anton Santiago, a significant drug distributor in the Bridgeport area. Following Santiago's arrest VANWAGNER was confronted with recorded conversations in which he was ordering quantities of cocaine from Santiago. VANWAGNER readily acknowledged that the recordings included him negotiating the purchase and sale of cocaine. VANWAGNER further acknowledges that he had been purchasing cocaine from Santiago two times each week for a period of about six months. VANWAGNER entered a plea of guilty to the federal charges less than two weeks following his arrest.

During today's sentencing proceeding, VANWAGNER told Judge Hall that he had not used any drugs since the day of his arrest. "If I had not been arrested, my dependence (on cocaine) would have gotten worse," VANWAGNER said, describing his arrest and prosecution as "a blessing."

In imposing sentence, Judge Hall ordered that during the two year period of supervised release VANWAGNER be subject to random drug testing and that he obtain drug counseling at his own expense. The Court also ordered that VANWAGNER pay a mandatory $1,000 fine and that he pay an additional fine in the sum of $500 to cover the costs of the investigation and prosecution. Finally, the Court also ordered that, pursuant to the plea agreement between the Government and VANWAGNER, the defendant make a $130 contribution to the B.J. Brown Memorial Fund. The amount of the contribution is equivalent to the amount of money VANWAGNER typically expended in each drug purchase.

The B.J. Brown Memorial Fund is used to support a park dedicated to the memory of B.J. Brown who was a child witness to a drug related shooting. When it became known that Brown would be a witness in the shooting case, he was murdered.

"It is only fitting that a person who was involved in making the market for drug dealers contribute to a charity dedicated to the memory of a young boy who stood up the drug dealers," U.S. Attorney O'Connor stated.

"Federal law enforcement authorities have long focused their attention on those who sell drugs. Sufficient effort has not been expended on addressing those who make the market for the dealers. While dealers are convicted and sent away for decades, drug buyers often remain unprosecuted and unpunished. This prosecution and others like it should send a message to those who may be inclined to buy and possess drugs – the risks are simply not worth it," U.S. Attorney O'Connor added.

Bridgeport Chief of Police Wilbur Chapman echoed this sentiment when he said "drug purchasers should be forewarned that there will be serious consequences if they are caught buying drugs in Bridgeport: Don't create the market for drugs here and bring all the attendant ills of drug trafficking into our City."

U.S. Attorney O'Connor further expressed his hope that "this prosecution will encourage others who have drug habits or drug problems to seek counseling and help for their addiction before they find themselves in federal custody and enmeshed in the criminal justice system with a resulting arrest and conviction record."

U.S. Attorney O'Connor noted that the U.S. Attorney's Office sponsors a weed and seed effort that is designed to weed criminal conduct from communities and provide the basis or "seeds" for redevelopment. This investigation and prosecution are part of those efforts.

This case was investigated by a Drug Enforcement Administration-led task force consisting of federal agents, and officers from the Stratford Police Department, the Bridgeport Police Department and the Stamford Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James I. Glasser.

CONTACT:

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