BY BRUNO MATARAZZO JR.
REPUBLICAN-AMERICAN
WATERBURY — When it came time for Gawayne Fisher to order his newest supply of heroin, he had a special request.
“Yo, that’s it. But you gotta make it stronger. That’s the mix right there … you gotta make it stronger,” Fisher told a Bristol man who is accused of concocting the deadly drugs in a Waterbury apartment.
The conversation taken from wiretaps between the two accused dealers was included in an affidavit that was the basis of Fisher’s arrest and three others April 13 in a joint federal and Waterbury police drug bust.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration arrested Fisher, 47, of Waterbury formerly of Naugatuck, and three other men following raids on multiple residences in the city as part of a major drug bust that netted 22 kilograms of drugs, 200,000 bags of fentanyl and $150,000 in cash.
The DEA also arrested Terry Collins, 29, of Bristol, as well as David Hing, 57, and Derrick Pruden, 53, both of Waterbury. Hing and Pruden are accused of selling the drugs.
Along with wiretaps on multiple phones, the lengthy investigation involved surveillance and controlled drug buys. Federal prosecutors said the investigation revealed that Fisher received heroin and fentanyl from Collins and other suppliers in New York. Fisher then distributed the narcotics to other drug sellers, including Hing and Pruden, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
The DEA, FBI, state police and Naugatuck, Waterbury, East Haven and Bristol police raided several residences Thursday.
Two in Waterbury included 109 Yale St., where Collins allegedly operated a “heroin mill,” and 1015 West Main St., where Fisher allegedly stored the drugs.
A search inside 1015 West Main St. revealed an estimated 16 kilograms of cocaine, 3 kilograms of fentanyl and 125,000 individual glassine bags containing a substance that tested positive as fentanyl, police allege.
A search of 109 Yale St. revealed drug-processing equipment, an estimated 3 kilograms of loose fentanyl and 75,000 individual glassine bags containing a substance that tested positive as fentanyl. In addition, a search of Fisher’s residence on Beverly Avenue in Waterbury revealed approximately $150,000 in cash.
“Our partnership with the DEA and the U.S. Attorney’s Office continues to thwart drug trafficking in Waterbury,” Waterbury Police Chief Fernando Spagnolo stated in a news release. “We look forward to continuing this important work with our federal partners to remove these drugs, and those involved in distributing it, from our community.”
Following their arrests, Fisher, Collins, Hing and Pruden appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Maria E. Garcia in New Haven. Fisher, Hing and Pruden were ordered detained, while Collins was released on a $100,000 bond.
This is not Fisher’s first time being accused of drug distribution. Also known as “Fruit,” he was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison in 2009 after being found guilty by a jury of multiple drug distribution charges.
