‘OG’ drug dealer who trafficked fentanyl in Connecticut sentenced to prison

A drug wholesaler was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison on Tuesday for smuggling fentanyl in the Hartford area.

Johnny Milner, also known as “Blaze” and “OG,” 46, of Hartford, was sentenced to 10 years in prison, followed by four years of probation, by U.S. District Judge Robert N. Chatigny in Hartford, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Milner pleaded guilty on March 12 to possession of 40 grams or more of fentanyl with intent to resell and to resale.

According to court documents, sources with the FBI's Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force and Hartford police tipped off that Milner was distributing fentanyl to street dealers at the SANA apartment complex on Main Street in Hartford, commonly referred to as “Sands.”

According to court documents, officers also learned that he used locations on Prospect Avenue and Bellevue Street in Hartford for the “storage and distribution of narcotics.”

In 2023, investigators reportedly purchased about 100 grams of fentanyl from Milner on Feb. 21 and March 15 at a liquor store he operated on Hillside Avenue in Hartford, court records show.

On March 29, 2023, court-ordered searches were conducted at locations in Hartford and New Britain reportedly linked to Milner. During the search of a residence on Bellevue Street, investigators seized packaged fentanyl, items used to process and package drugs, and a loaded .22-caliber Ruger rifle, court records show.

“During a search of a residence on Chestnut Street in New Britain conducted by Milner, approximately 64 grams of fentanyl laced with xylazine, several digital scales, a money counting machine and $221,301 in cash were found,” court records state.

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

James Jones, 42, who lived at the Bellevue Street apartment, was arrested and pleaded guilty to possession of fentanyl with intent to resell on Jan. 22. He is awaiting sentencing, officials said.

During a separate 2021 drug trafficking investigation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, investigators reportedly saw Milner carrying a shopping bag and getting into a car that had just arrived at the Bellevue Street apartment. “He then exited the car without the bag, but with a backpack in his hand,” officials said.

Investigators followed the car, conducted a search and found a shopping bag containing $141,030 in cash, which officers said was seized as “suspected proceeds of drug trafficking.”