Hartford Drug Trafficker Sentenced to More Than 6 Years in Federal Prison

David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that TYSHAWN COLEMAN, also known as "Ty" and "Mazi," 36, formerly of New Britain and Hartford, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford to 81 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release for trafficking narcotics and for violating the conditions of his supervised release from a prior federal conviction.

According to court documents and statements made in court, an investigation by the FBI's Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force revealed that Tyshawn Coleman and his brother, Troy Coleman, were selling fentanyl and crack cocaine in Hartford. In November and December 2020, investigators made five controlled purchases of fentanyl, totaling 900 dose bags of the drug, from Troy Coleman. On April 13, 2021, Troy Coleman was shot multiple times outside of a restaurant located at 2393 Main Street in Hartford. Troy Coleman, who possessed fentanyl and crack cocaine at the time of the shooting, was released from the hospital approximately one week later.

As the investigation continued, an undercover law enforcement officer purchased fentanyl from Tyshawn Colman in late April and early May 2021. On May 5, 2021, investigators conducted a court authorized search of Tyshawn Coleman's apartment on Sisson Avenue in Hartford. The search revealed distribution quantities of fentanyl and crack cocaine, items used to process and package narcotics for street sale, a .40 caliber "ghost gun" with a loaded high-capacity magazine, a loaded 9mm pistol with an obliterated serial number, and additional loaded gun magazine, ammunition, and $4860 in cash. Troy Coleman was located and arrested on unrelated charges later that day. Tyshawn Coleman remained a fugitive until his arrest on July 16, 2025.

Tyshawn Coleman has been detained since his arrest. On January 21, 2026, he pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, fentanyl.

Tyshawn Coleman's criminal history includes two convictions for conspiracy to commit murder, three convictions for accessory to first-degree assault, a conviction for first degree assault, a conviction for sale of a controlled substance, and a federal firearm conviction in 2020 for which his was sentenced to 46 months of imprisonment.

Tyshawn Coleman was on federal supervised release at the time of this offense. Judge Shea sentenced him to 57 months of imprisonment for the fentanyl distribution charge, and a consecutive 24 months of imprisonment for violating the conditions of his supervised release.

Troy Coleman, also known as "Hoy" and "TJ," pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 67 months of imprisonment.

This investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force and the Hartford Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan J. Keefe.