Hartford drug dealer jailed: Federal authorities

HARTFORD, CT — A Hartford drug dealer will spend the next 10 years of his life behind bars after his sentencing Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Hartford.

Vanessa Roberts Avery, U.S. Attorney for Connecticut, said Johnny Milner, also known as “Blaze” and “OG,” 46, of Hartford, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Robert N. Chatigny to 10 years in prison, followed by four years of probation, for fentanyl trafficking.

According to court documents and statements made in court, the FBI's Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force and the Hartford Police Department received information from various sources that Milner was distributing fentanyl to street drug dealers at the SANA apartment complex on Main Street in Hartford.

The complex is commonly referred to as “Sands” and used locations on Prospect Avenue and Bellevue Street in Hartford to store and distribute narcotics, Avery said.

On Feb. 21 and March 15, 2023, investigators made controlled purchases of about 100 grams of fentanyl from Milner at a liquor store he operated on Hillside Avenue in Hartford, she said.

On March 29, 2023, investigators conducted court-ordered searches of locations in Hartford and New Britain associated with Milner.

Avery said a search of the Bellevue Street apartment turned up packaged fentanyl, numerous items used to process and package narcotics, and a loaded .22-caliber Ruger rifle.

During a search of a Chestnut Street apartment in New Britain conducted by Milner, authorities found approximately 64 grams of fentanyl laced with xylazine, several digital scales, a money counting machine and $221,301 in cash, according to the report.

Milner was arrested at his New Britain apartment and has been in custody since his arrest.

On March 12, he pleaded guilty to possession and distribution of 40 grams or more of fentanyl with the intent to resell.