Feds Breakdown on Connecticut Dealers Selling Counterfeit Pills Nationwide

In a covert garage in East Haven, Connecticut, a New Haven man has been implicated in the production of large quantities of counterfeit pills, which feature methamphetamine and other illicit substances. Federal grand jury indictments detail this extensive operation, marking it as one of New England’s most significant counterfeit pill busts.

The main suspect, 45-year-old Kelldon Hinton, is alleged to have operated his drug manufacturing setup in a rented garage, self-designated as his “lab.” Federal authorities indicated that he sourced both drugs and pill-making equipment from international sellers, including suppliers in China.

Hinton is accused of dispatching over 1,300 packages through the U.S. mail system from February 2023 to February 2024. These packages were sold on the dark web, reaching buyers across the country. Additionally, it is alleged that he supplied pills to associates within Connecticut, who in turn sold them to their clientele.

Accompanying Hinton in the indictments are six other Connecticut residents. They face serious charges linked to this extensive drug distribution network.

The counterfeit medications that Hinton sold included fake oxycodone, Xanax, and Adderall, all laced with methamphetamine and protonitazene, a synthetic opioid that is reportedly three times more potent than fentanyl. Furthermore, the pills contained dimethylpentylone—a designer party drug often mislabeled as ecstasy—and xylazine, a tranquilizer commonly referred to as “tranq.”

On September 5, law enforcement officials executed a series of search warrants in East Haven and other locations. During these operations, authorities seized several hundred thousand counterfeit pills along with two pill presses and additional manufacturing equipment. The capacity of one of the pill presses is notable, capable of producing 100,000 pills every hour.

As of now, there has been no response from Hinton’s federal public defender regarding inquiries on the case.

Authorities from various agencies participated in the investigation, which involved the Connecticut U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the FBI, among others.

“This investigation reveals the constant challenges that law enforcement faces in addressing the rise of synthetic opioids in America,” stated Vanessa Roberts Avery, Connecticut’s U.S. Attorney.

The reality of counterfeit pills laced with powerful substances like fentanyl has led to a significant increase in overdose deaths across the United States, as explained by Stephen Belleau, acting special agent in charge of the DEA’s New England division. He underscored the commitment of the DEA to confront drug trafficking organizations profiting from these dangerous substances.

The investigation into Hinton began following a tip-off from an unnamed source in June 2023. This led law enforcement to track parcels linked to Hinton and establish surveillance that captured him dropping off packages at the post office. Investigation teams even purchased counterfeit pills directly from Hinton’s operations on the dark web.

Hinton has a long-standing criminal history dating back to 1997, which includes convictions related to assault, larceny, and drug sales, according to a search warrant application.

The overdose crisis in the U.S. is alarming, with approximately 107,500 overdose deaths reported last year, as per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This figure reflects a slight decrease of 3% from 2022, when around 111,000 fatalities occurred. Since 1999, the epidemic has accounted for over 1 million deaths nationwide.