BRIDGEPORT - Ronald Weaver, 38, of Waterbury was sentenced on February 16 by US District Judge Stefan Underhill to serve 52 months in federal prison, to be followed by three years of probation, on a conviction for distribution of heroin, according to a statement from Deirdre Daly, the United States Attorney for Connecticut.

Weaver's sentencing stems from an ongoing statewide investigation targeting narcotics dealers who distribute heroin, fentanyl, or opioids that cause death or serious injury to users. Weaver has an extensive criminal history. The case marks his 11th criminal conviction overall, and his fifth felony conviction for selling drugs, according to a federal prosecutor.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in March 2016, Newtown police and emergency medical personnel responded to a local residence on a report of a 30-year-old female suffering cardiac arrest.

The woman, who was the mother of three young girls, was transported to the hospital, where she later died.

Medical records and witness interviews revealed that the victim had a history of substance abuse. The family of the victim turned over to law enforcement officials several wax folds of heroin, several empty folds, and other drug paraphernalia.

The police investigation revealed that the victim purchased heroin and other drugs from at least two sources in the days leading up to her death. One of those two drug sources worked as a "runner," who conducted drug transactions for Weaver, according to Ms Daly.

Between June and August in 2016, law enforcement personnel made four controlled purchases of heroin from Weaver.

Police arrested Weaver on August 9, 2016. On October 5, he pleaded guilty to one count of possession of heroin with intent to distribute and distribution of heroin.

In a sentencing memorandum, a government prosecutor wrote that Weaver was not addicted to drugs.

"He was a profiteer who sold drugs only because he made good money, and it was easier than working a lawful job. Mr Weaver's crime thus deserves strong condemnation," the prosecutor wrote.

"A 30-year-old woman from Newtown bought drugs that Mr Weaver and another supplier put onto the street, and she fatally overdosed, leaving behind three young daughters to be raised by their grandparents. The government cannot prove to the requisite standard that it was Mr Weaver's heroin that killed the victim, but it easily could have been. He was pedaling a deadly drug to people deep in the throes of addiction during the worst drug epidemic this country has seen in a generation. Every time he sold a baggie of heroin, he gambled with someone's life for $6," Avi Perry, the assistant United States attorney who prosecuted the case, wrote in the memorandum.

As part of his February 16 sentence, Weaver was ordered to forfeit a 2006 Infiniti M35 auto, a 2007 Lexus ES350 auto, and $1,956 in cash that was seized from him at the time of his arrest.

The US Drug Enforcement Administration's New Haven Tactical Diversion Squad, received assistance by municipal police from Newtown, Waterbury, and Torrington in the drug investigation.