United States Drug Enforcement Administration

HARTFORD, CT. - Steven W. Derr, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England and David B. Fein, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that two men involved a Hartford-area narcotics trafficking ring have been sentenced by United States District Judge Mark R. Kravitz in New Haven.

On October 6, John Minter, also known as “Joker,” 42, of East Hartford, was sentenced to 120 months of imprisonment followed by four years of supervised release. Today, Martin Mckreith, 59, of Hartford, was sentenced to 60 months of imprisonment followed by four years of supervised release.

This matter stems from “Operation All In,” a long-term Drug Enforcement Administration Task Force investigation into the distribution of cocaine and crack cocaine in Hartford County. A total of 33 individuals have been charged and convicted as a result of the investigation, which has also included the seizure of approximately three kilograms of cocaine, one-half kilogram of crack cocaine, 12 firearms, and approximately $800,000 in cash.

On May 5, 2010, Minter pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five grams or more of cocaine (“crack cocaine”). According to court documents and statements made in court, Minter was intercepted on multiple occasions over a court-authorized wiretap ordering distribution quantities of crack cocaine from Peter Maylor of Newington. On March 3, 2009, federal agents and task force officers executed a search warrant at Minter’s Cannon Road residence and seized more than 11 grams of crack cocaine and $5,341 in cash.

On March 23, 2010, McKreith pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine. According to statements made in court, on April 8, 2009, McKreith, Peter Maylor and Glenn Smith of East Hartford traveled to the Bronx, New York, where they met with an individual who had been supplying their drug trafficking organization with cocaine. The drug supplier provided two kilograms of cocaine to Maylor to Smith, who then concealed the cocaine in a hidden compartment in a minivan. At the request of Maylor and Smith, McKreith drove the minivan back to Hartford. In Hartford, the minivan was stopped by law enforcement, which used a narcotics canine to find the cocaine.

Maylor and Smith previously pleaded guilty are currently serving 100-month terms of imprisonment.

This matter was investigated by a Drug Enforcement Administration and the Hartford, New Britain, Manchester, East Hartford, Bloomfield, Bristol, Wethersfield, Windsor and Windsor Locks Police Departments. Additional assistance has been provided by the East Central Narcotics Task Force, which includes members from the Manchester, South Windsor, Glastonbury, and Vernon Police Departments; the Capital Region Emergency Services (CREST), and the Hartford Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT).