Bristol man sentenced to 6 years in federal prison for drug trafficking, defrauding COVID-19 relief program

Date: September 9, 2025

Contact: [email protected]

David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that TERRY COLLINS of Bristol, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in New Haven to 72 months of imprisonment and four years of supervised release for trafficking fentanyl and for laundering funds received through misrepresentations to a COVID-19 relief program.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in 2022, the DEA New Haven Task Force, the DEA Tactical Diversion Squad, the Waterbury Police Department, and other law enforcement agencies determined that Gawayne Fisher, also known as "Fruit" and "Tank," was trafficking narcotics in and around Waterbury while on federal supervised release. The investigation, which included court-authorized wiretaps on multiple phones, physical surveillance, and controlled purchases of narcotics, revealed that Fisher and others were selling large quantities of fentanyl and cocaine, as well as counterfeit oxycodone and alprazolam (Xanax) pills. Collins supplied fentanyl to Fisher's organization, and he maintained a location on Yale Street in Waterbury to store, process, and package narcotics.

Collins, Fisher, and two associates were arrested on April 13, 2023. On that date, a search of the Yale Street location revealed drug-processing equipment, approximately three kilograms of loose fentanyl, and approximately 75,000 individual bags containing fentanyl. In addition, a West Main Street apartment in Waterbury that Fisher used as a stash location revealed approximately 16 kilograms of cocaine, three kilograms of fentanyl, 125,000 individual glassine bags containing fentanyl, and $7,574 in cash, and a search of Fisher's residence on Beverly Avenue in Waterbury, and his vehicle, revealed approximately $175,110 in cash.

The investigation also revealed that Collins defrauded the Paycheck Protection Program ("PPP"), a COVID-19 pandemic relief program established by the U.S. Congress through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security ("CARES") Act to provide financial assistance to small businesses for job retention and other expenses. In May 2021, Collins submitted documentation to the U.S. Small Business Administration that Platinum Liquor, a store he operated in Waterbury, had 14 employees and an average monthly payroll of $59,612. In fact, Platinum Liquor only had one employee and the store did not generate as much money as Collins claimed. Based on these misrepresentations, Platinum Liquor received a $149,030 PPP loan. Collins made additional misrepresentations in loan forgiveness documents and the loan was subsequently forgiven.

On October 2, 2024, Collins pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, and one count of money laundering related to the PPP loan scheme. Collins, who is released on a $100,000 bond, is required to report to prison on October 28.

Judge Bolden will determine Collins' restitution obligation within 90 days.

On January 27, 2025, Fisher was sentenced to 217 months of imprisonment for this drug trafficking offense and for violating the conditions of his supervised release from a prior federal conviction.

This investigation was conducted by the DEA New Haven Task Force, the DEA Tactical Diversion Squad, and the Waterbury Police Department, with the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Marshals Service, Connecticut State Police, Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation Division, and the New Haven, Naugatuck, Ansonia, West Haven, Meriden, East Haven, Branford, Shelton, and Bristol Police Departments.

IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) is the law enforcement arm of the IRS, responsible for conducting financial crime investigations, including tax fraud, narcotics trafficking, money laundering, public corruption, healthcare fraud, identity theft and more. IRS-CI special agents are the only federal law enforcement agents with investigative jurisdiction over violations of the Internal Revenue Code, obtaining a 90% federal conviction rate. The agency has 19 field offices located across the U.S. and 14 attaché posts abroad.