Armed Drug Trafficker Sentenced to 5 Years in Federal Prison

David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that CHRISTOPHER PURVIS, 29, was sentenced today to 60 months of imprisonment, consecutive to federal and state sentences that he is currently serving, for possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on May 7, 2022, New Britain Police attempted to stop a car in which Purvis was an occupant. As officers approached the car, Purvis accelerated at a high rate of speed. The car crashed a short time later and Purvis and others ran from the scene. A search of the car revealed quantities of fentanyl and cocaine, and a loaded Glock 9mm handgun that had been reported stolen. Analysis of the firearm and drug packaging revealed the presence of Purvis' DNA.

Purvis pleaded guilty on August 8, 2025.

Purvis is currently serving a 72-month federal sentence for trafficking fentanyl and cocaine in northern Vermont, and a concurrent six-year Connecticut state sentenceLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the "external link" icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. for firearm and threatening offenses.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration's Hartford Task Force and the Bristol Police Department. The Task Force includes personnel from the DEA Hartford Resident Office, the Connecticut State Police, and the Bristol, Hartford, East Hartford, Enfield, Manchester, Middletown, New Britain, Rocky Hill, Wethersfield, and Windsor Locks Police Departments. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Natasha Freismuth and Christopher Lembo.