Suspended Bridgeport Priest Sentenced to 65 Months in Prison for Operating a Drug Ring

WFSB
May 7, 2015

http://www.wfsb.com/story/29001777/suspended-priest-due-to-be-sentenced-on-meth-guilty-plea

[with video]

Monsignor Kevin Wallin, who is seen here on the left next to former Bridgeport Bishop William Lori.

About 75 people came to speak on behalf of Wallin including fellow priests. (WFSB)

A suspended Roman Catholic priest was sentenced to 65 months in prison for operating a drug ring.

Monsignor Kevin Wallin faced a judge on Thursday in U.S. District Court in Hartford. After his five year prison term, Wallin will have five years of supervised release.

Wallin, 63, had previously pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine on April 2, 2013. He was arrested at his Waterbury home on Jan. 3, 2013.

As part of his 2013 guilty plea, Wallin agreed to a possible prison sentence of 10 to 11 years. He asked for four years in prison and 500 hours of community service.

Prosecutors wanted at least a 10-year prison sentence.

Wallin's lawyer cited his years of charitable service and letters of support, including one from the late Cardinal Edward Egan. The defense said Wallin was lonely and overworked when he became addicted to meth.

Authorities said Wallin bought a sex shop to possibly launder his drug money. When Wallin was arrested, authorities seized meth, drug paraphernalia and drug packaging materials.

"Meth is a highly-addictive drug that consumes its user and has ravaged other parts of the country. Federal, state and local law enforcement continue to work hard to thwart meth distribution and abuse here in Connecticut. The DEA and Connecticut State Police should be commended for disrupting this coast to coast meth trafficking operation," Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, said in a statement on Thursday.

Over four years, federal authorities said Wallin received shipments of from Chad McCluskey and his girlfriend, Kristen Laschober, of California. Then, authorities said Wallin "distributed the drug to other dealers and also sold it to his own customers."

Wallin is accused of selling of meth to an undercover officer six times between September 2012 and January 2013, authorities said.

About 75 people came to speak on behalf of Wallin including fellow priests on Thursday.

Drug Enforcement Administration and the Connecticut State Police's Statewide Narcotics Task Force working together on the investigation involving Wallin.

"DEA and our law enforcement partners are committed to investigating individuals and organizations that distribute methamphetamine in our communities. Methamphetamine is an insidious drug that wreaks havoc in our communities and destroys lives," Michael J. Ferguson, special agent in charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England, said in a statement on Thursday.