Norwich Man on Federal Supervised Release Charged with Gun and Drug Offenses

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, David Sundberg, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Norwich Police Chief Patrick J. Daley announced that ANTOINE WALKER, 40, of Norwich, was arrested today on a federal criminal complaint charging him with firearm and controlled substances offenses.

Walker appeared this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah A. L. Merriam in New Haven and was ordered detained.

As alleged in the complaint, on June 10, 2020, Norwich Police conducting a drug trafficking and murder investigation executed a court-authorized search of Walker’s residence.  Officers searched the garage at the residence and found approximately 130 grams of suspected fentanyl, approximately 88 dose bags of suspected fentanyl, nearly two pounds of suspected marijuana, items used to process and package drugs for street sale, and a loaded .38 Special Smith and Wesson revolver.  A search of the residence revealed approximately 15 grams of suspected crack cocaine together with a digital scale.  Walker was arrested on state charges at that time.

It is further alleged Walker is a previously convicted felon and, in October 2013, he was sentenced in Southern District of New York to 80 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release for armed robbery and bank robbery offenses.  Walker is currently on federal supervised release.

The complaint charges Walker with possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, and with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.  He may also face enhanced penalties based on the quantity and type of drugs seized, his alleged prior convictions, and if he is found in violation of the conditions of his supervised release.

U.S. Attorney Durham stressed that a complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt.  Charges are only allegations and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Norwich Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Margaret M. Donovan and Maria del Pilar Gonzalez.