EAST HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) — Seven people face charges for their alleged roles in a massive counterfeit pill manufacturing operation in East Haven, according to federal investigators.
Federal investigators believe the alleged dealers were responsible for manufacturing and trafficking counterfeit pills containing synthetic opioids and other substances, including oxycodone, Xanax and Adderall.
They allegedly manufactured these pills in a garage in East Haven rented out by 45-year-old Kelldon Hinton of New Haven.
From there, investigators allege Hinton, with the help of his co-conspirators, marketed and sold those pills on the dark web and mailed pills to customers across Connecticut and the United States from February 2023 to February 2024.
“Over the course of one year, Henton shipped more than 1,300 packages through the U.S. mail,” U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut Vanessa Roberts Avery said at a press conference Monday. “He also distributed counterfeit pills through associates in Connecticut, who sold them to their own customers.”
In addition to Hinton, the following six people were indicted by a federal grand jury:
Heshima Harris, 53, of New Haven
Emanuel Payton, 33, of New Haven
Marvin Ogman, 47, of West Haven
Shawn Stephens, 34, of West Haven
Arnaldo Echevarria, 42, of Waterbury
Cheryle Tyson, 64, of West Haven
The garage was the subject of a DEA investigation in East Haven on Sept. 5, where hundreds of thousands of counterfeit pills were discovered. Officials said they seized several hundred thousand pills, two pill presses and pill manufacturing equipment. One of the pill presses can churn out 100,000 pills an hour, authorities said.
In this photo released by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Connecticut, seized counterfeit pills are displayed Sept. 5, 2024, in East Haven.
Authorities said they were tipped off about Hinton by an unnamed source in June 2023. Law enforcement officials said they later began searching and seizing parcels sent to and from Hinton and set up surveillance that showed him dropping off parcels at a post office. Investigators also said they ordered bogus pills from Hinton’s operation on the dark web.
Hinton has a criminal record dating to 1997 that includes convictions for assault, larceny and drug sales, federal authorities said in a search warrant application.
Roberts Avery said law enforcement is investigating a recent overdose that may be linked to this drug ring.
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