Two men were sentenced to prison today for their involvement in distributing counterfeit pills containing methamphetamine and fentanyl, as well as fentanyl powder mixed with xylazine. The sentences were handed down by U.S. District Judge Janet C. Hall in New Haven.
Markeyese Kelly, known as “Curry” or “Keyse,” aged 46 from West Haven, received a sentence of 138 months of imprisonment followed by five years of supervised release. Jaquan Price, also known as “Sub,” aged 34 from New Haven, was sentenced to 120 months of imprisonment with the same period of supervised release.
The investigation into the drug trafficking activities began in October 2023 by the FBI New Haven Safe Streets Gang Task Force. It uncovered that Kelly led a drug trafficking organization with Price and an associate named Robert Covington. They distributed various controlled substances including multi-colored pills resembling ecstasy but containing methamphetamine, counterfeit oxycodone pills with fentanyl, fentanyl powder laced with xylazine, and PCP.
The arrests took place on May 14, 2024. Law enforcement executed multiple search warrants which resulted in the seizure of over a kilogram of methamphetamine pills, additional meth powder, more than 100 grams of fentanyl pills and powder, approximately 50 grams of cocaine, three handguns, two loaded gun magazines, ammunition, and over $11,000 in cash.
Kelly pleaded guilty on February 21, 2025 to conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute significant quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl. Price entered his guilty plea on March 21, 2025 for possession with intent to distribute a substantial amount of methamphetamine.
Both Kelly and Price have been detained since their arrest dates.
Price has a prior conviction; he was sentenced in April 2015 to 30 months for unlawful firearm possession by a felon in Bridgeport federal court.
Covington has also pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentencing.
This case involved several law enforcement agencies including the FBI New Haven Safe Streets Gang Task Force, local police departments from New Haven and West Haven among others, along with federal agencies like the DEA and ATF. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephanie T. Levick and Nathan Guevremont under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) Program.
More information about OCDETF can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
