Category: Connecticut

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that DAVID CINTRON, 26, of Manchester, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Janet C. Hall in New Haven to 78 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release, for trafficking fentanyl.

In July 2019, the DEA’s Hartford Task Force began investigating a Mexican-based drug trafficking organization that was distributing fentanyl and heroin in Connecticut.  The investigation revealed that Cintron, Armando Gonzalez and other members of the organization received kilogram-quantities of narcotics, primarily fentanyl, from a source in Mexico, and then distributed the drug to street-level distributors.  Members of the organization delivered cash generated from the sale of narcotics to a money broker in Brooklyn, New York, who assisted in laundering the narcotics proceeds before they were transferred to leaders of the drug trafficking organization.  Between August and October 2019, investigators seized more than $200,000 in cash from members of the drug trafficking organization.

Cintron and Gonzalez used several locations to store, process and package fentanyl for street stale, including office space on Pratt Street in Hartford, an apartment in the Asylum Hill neighborhood in Hartford, and an apartment in New Britain.

Cintron, Gonzalez and three associates were arrested on federal charges on April 28, 2020.  On that date, investigators searched the New Britain apartment and seized numerous bags of suspected fentanyl, items used to process and package narcotics, a 9mm firearm, 9mm ammunition, and cash.  Cintron was located in the bathroom of his Manchester residence, flushing suspected fentanyl in the toilet.

On June 3, 2020, a grand jury returned an indictment charging Cintron, Gonzalez and eight others with narcotics distribution and money laundering offenses.  On May 11, 2022, Cintron pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl.  He has been detained since his arrest on April 28, 2020.

Gonzalez, of New Britain, pleaded guilty to related charges and, on June 27, 2022, was sentenced to 120 months of imprisonment.

The DEA’s Hartford Task Force includes personnel from the DEA Hartford Resident Office, the Connecticut State Police, and the Bristol, Hartford, East Hartford, Enfield, Manchester, New Britain, Rocky Hill, Wethersfield, Windsor Locks and Willimantic Police Departments.  Agencies assisting the investigation include the DEA New York Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Strike Force and the New York Police Department.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey M. Stone through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program.  OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.  Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that DOMINIC COLON-BROWN, 28, of Farmington, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer in New Haven to 12 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for trafficking firearms that were stolen in Florida to Connecticut.  Judge Meyer also ordered Colon-Brown to pay a $2,200 fine.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in January 2021, Colon-Brown sold a firearm to a convicted felon.  He then conspired with Julian Judge and another individual to obtain firearms in Florida and sell them in Connecticut.  In late February 2021, Colon-Brown and Judge drove to Florida, obtained three handguns and transported them back to Connecticut.  Colon Brown and Judge knew the firearms were stolen or otherwise illegally obtained.

On March 8, 2021, law enforcement recovered the three firearms, as well as more than 100 rounds of ammunition and approximately 60 grams of cocaine, during a search of a New Britain apartment.

During the investigation, Colon-Brown and his associates were captured in recorded conversations discussing the illegal acquisition and sale of firearms.  Colon-Brown and Judge also posted photos of themselves on social media in possession of firearms.

Colon-Brown was arrested on May 27, 2021.  On January 20, 2022, he pleaded guilty to one count of transporting stolen firearms across state lines.

Judge, of New Britain, pleaded guilty to the same charge and, on May 27, 2022, he was sentenced to 24 months of imprisonment and ordered to pay a $3,000 fine.

This investigation has been conducted by the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force, New Britain Police Department, Farmington Police Department, West Hartford Police Department and Pasco County (Fla.) Sheriff’s Office.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Angel M. Krull.

This prosecution is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  In May 2021, the Justice Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: Fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England, today announced today that the following four men were arrested yesterday on federal narcotics distribution charges primarily related to the large-scale trafficking of counterfeit fentanyl pills containing fentanyl:

MICHAEL LEE, 24, of Windsor
ALEXANDER LEE, 21, of Windsor
DARYL BEAUFORT, 24, of Windsor
JUSTIN LITTLE, 24, of Windsor

As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, the DEA New Haven Tactical Diversion Squad has been investigating a drug trafficking organization led by Michael Lee and his brother Alexander Lee.  The investigation, which has included court-authorized wiretaps, controlled purchases of narcotics and the seizure of drugs that had been shipped through the U.S. Mail, revealed that Michael Lee, Alexander Lee and others received thousands of counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl, and other controlled substances, from a source of supply on the west coast of the U.S., and then distributed the drugs to various street-level distributors in Connecticut, including Beaufort and Little, and numerous drug customers.

During the investigation and in association with yesterday’s arrests, investigators seized more than 15,000 counterfeit oxycodone tablets containing fentanyl, more than 1,800 alprazolam tablets (commonly referred to as “Xanax”), approximately 25 pounds of marijuana, seven firearms, and thousands of dollars in cash.

The defendants were arrested on criminal complaints charging each with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, and possession with intent to distribute and distribution of controlled substances.

Each defendant appeared yesterday before U.S. District Judge Robert A. Richardson in Hartford.  Michael and Alexander Lee are currently detained, and Beaufort and Little were released on bonds.

U.S. Attorney Avery stressed that a complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt.  Charges are only allegations and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This matter is being investigated by the DEA New Haven Tactical Diversion Squad, with the assistance of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Connecticut State Police; East Central Narcotics Task Force; and the Windsor and Enfield Police Departments.  The DEA Tactical Diversion Squad is composed of personnel from the DEA and the Watertown, East Windsor, Manchester, Glastonbury, New Britain, West Haven, Hamden and Newington Police Departments.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren C. Clark and Stephanie T. Levick through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program.  OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.  Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that CHAWN BATTLE, 49, of New Haven, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford to 21 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release, for a narcotics trafficking offense.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in 2019, the DEA New Haven Task Force began an investigation into a New Haven-based drug trafficking network headed by Michael Smith, also known as “Head.”  The investigation, which included court-authorized wiretaps, revealed that Smith and others were distributing heroin and crack cocaine throughout the New Haven area.  Battle was one of Smith’s cocaine suppliers.

In December 2019, Smith was intercepted on a wiretap describing having shot at a rival drug dealer.  New Haven Police collected 31 shell casings from a location in the Fair Haven neighborhood where the shooting occurred.  Smith was arrested on December 23, 2019.

Battle was arrested on September 16, 2020.  On March 24, 2021, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess and distribute cocaine.

Battle’s criminal history spans more than 30 years and includes several convictions, including a federal conviction in 2001 for distributing more than one kilogram of PCP.  He was sentenced to 151 months of imprisonment for that prior federal offense.

On April 15, 2021, Smith pleaded guilty to drug, firearm and money laundering charges.  He awaits sentencing.

This investigation is being conducted by the DEA New Haven Task Force, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, and the New Haven, West Haven, Hamden, East Haven, North Haven, Ansonia, Meriden and Derby Police Departments.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys John T. Pierpont, Jr. and Elena L. Coronado through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program.  OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.  Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that KENDALL JONES, also known as “Wolf,” 32, of Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Alvin W. Thompson in Hartford to 84 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release, for narcotics distribution and firearm possession offenses.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in September and October 2020, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Hartford Task Force, along with state and local law enforcement officers, conducted an operation in response to a recent spike in drug-related violence in Hartford’s North End.  Jones was identified during the operation as an active drug seller.

On October 7, 2020, investigators sought to arrest Jones on a state arrest warrant and observed him at a gas station on Albany Avenue in Hartford engaging in what appeared to be drug transactions.  As task force officers approached Jones, Jones ran and discarded a black leather shoulder bag.  Jones was apprehended after a short chase.  A search of his person revealed approximately eight grams of crack cocaine and a quantity of marijuana, and the discarded shoulder bag contained a loaded .22 caliber Ruger semiautomatic handgun.

The handgun has been reported stolen in North Carolina in July 2020.

Jones’ criminal history includes state convictions for drug, firearm, robbery and larceny offenses.

Jones, while released on bond in this federal case, was arrested on state narcotics charges on April 9, 2021, after he was again observed making drug sales in Hartford.  He has been detained since his arrest.

On April 29, 2021, Jones pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine base (“crack”), and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

The DEA’s Hartford Task Force includes personnel from the DEA Hartford Resident Office and the Bristol, Hartford, East Hartford, Manchester, New Britain, Rocky Hill, Wethersfield, Windsor Locks and Willimantic Police Departments.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan Keefe.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

As part of an ongoing investigation into gang-related drug trafficking and related violence in Waterbury, a federal grand jury in Hartford has returned an indictment charging 16 Waterbury gang members with engaging in numerous violent criminal acts, including murder and attempted murder, as well as firearm possession and drug trafficking offenses.

Today’s announcement was made by Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut; Maureen T. Platt, State’s Attorney for the Waterbury Judicial District; Waterbury Police Chief Fernando C. Spagnolo; David Sundberg, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Boston Field Division.

The 36-count indictment, which was returned on September 14, charges

GABRIEL PULLIAM, a.k.a. “G, ” 27
TAHJAY LOVE, a.k.a. “Goon,” 23
ZAEKWON McDANIEL, a.k.a. “Gap” and “Yung Gap,” 23
EZRA ALVES, a.k.a. “EJ” and “Ezzy,” 21
MALIK BAYON, a.k.a. “Pop” and “Dirt,” 25
D’ANDRE BURRUS, a.k.a. “Dopeman,” 27
USTIN CABRERA, a.k.a. “J.U.,” 22
LADERRICK JONES, a.k.a. “Lexus,” 29
JAIVAUN McKNIGHT, a.k.a. “Sav,” 23
JULIAN SCOTT, a.k.a. “Ju Sav,” 22
DAYQUAIN SINISTERRA, a.k.a. “Quan,” 24
AHMED ALVES, a.k.a. “Stones,” 23
ADRIAN FLEMMING, a.k.a. “Big A” and “Goldo,” 26
JAMES GRAHAM, a.k.a. “Little Cuz,” 21
TAVAUGHN WRIGHT, a.k.a. “Teddy,” 27
DIMITRI BLANDING, 23

Pulliam, Love, McDaniel, Ezra Alves, Burrus, Jones, McKnight, Scott, Sinisterra and Graham have been detained in state custody, and Flemming is currently serving a federal sentence for a related drug charge.  Bayon, Cabrera, Wright, Blanding, and Ahmed Alves were arrested yesterday.  Blanding was released on bond, and Bayon, Cabrera, Wright and Alves are detained pending detention hearings that are scheduled beginning next week.

As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, in an effort to address escalating violence in Waterbury, the FBI, ATF, and Waterbury Police are actively investigating multiple Waterbury-based groups whose members are involved in narcotics trafficking, murder and other acts of violence. The defendants charged in the indictment are members of the 960 gang – an active gang in the Waterbury area.

The indictment alleges that the 960 gang distributed narcotics and engaged in multiple violent acts, including murder, attempted murder and assault, as well as obstruction of justice.

Among the violent acts committed by the defendants, the indictment alleges that:

• On October 31, 2017, Cabrera attempted to murder members of a rival gang, which resulted in gunshot wounds to an individual with the initials J.B.;
• On November 22, 2017, McDaniel, Bayon and Love murdered Clarence Lewis and Antonio Santos;
• On December 29, 2017, McDaniel attempted to murder an individual believed to be related to a rival gang, which resulted in gunshot wounds to an individual with the initials J.S.;
• On September 21, 2018, Sinisterra attempted to murder individuals associated with an individual with the initials H.M. by shooting at an occupied residence on Lounsbury Street in Waterbury;
• On September 21, 2018, Ezra Alves, McKnight and Sinisterra attempted to murder individuals associated with an individual with the initials H.M. by shooting at an occupied residence on Scott Road in Waterbury;
• On October 6, 2018, Ezra Alves, Scott and Sinisterra attempted to murder individuals believed to be members of a rival gang, which resulted in gunshot wounds to an individual with the initials A.R.;
• On October 11, 2018, Pulliam, Scott and Sinisterra, in an attempt to murder individuals believed to be members of a rial gang, murdered Fransua Guzman and injured an individual with the initials D.M.
• On November 1, 2018, Sinisterra attempted to murder H.M., which resulted in gunshot wounds to H.M.
• On November 18, 2018, Ezra Alves, Scott and Sinisterra attempted to murder individuals believed to be members of a rival gang, which resulted in gunshot wounds to individuals with the initials M.A. and J.S.;
• On October 19, 2019, Love and Graham caused bodily injury to an individual with the initials J.A. in an attempt to obstruct the administration of justice.

“As alleged in the indictment and in related prosecutions, members of the 960 gang not only murdered and attempted to murder rival gang members, but also shot and maimed unintended victims whose lives have been forever changed by their reckless behavior,” said U.S. Attorney Boyle.  This long-term investigation and prosecution of these 16 defendants represent our commitment to use federal resources to help dismantle violent groups and prosecute those whose drug trafficking and relentless acts of gun violence destroy the communities where they operate.  I sincerely thank State’s Attorney Platt for coordinating this prosecution with our office, and Chief Spagnolo and the members of the Waterbury Police Department for their excellent work and close partnership with the FBI and ATF during this investigation.”

“The indictment of 16 members of the 960 gang in Waterbury is a product of the tireless work and collaboration of numerous law enforcement agencies,” said Waterbury State’s Attorney Platt.  “Especially today given the recent escalation of gun violence and gang activity, this effort will undoubtedly make the Waterbury community a safer and better place in which to live.  The Waterbury State’s Attorney’s office is so proud to be a part of this project, and we would like to extend and thanks and admiration to all those who worked so hard to put this case together, including the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Chief Spagnolo and the Waterbury Police Department, and numerous federal and state law enforcement agencies.”

“The 36-count indictment charging 16 members of the violent Waterbury gang 960 is due in part to the tireless efforts of so many in local and federal law enforcement,” said Chief Spagnolo.  “I want to acknowledge our strong partnerships with the United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, the Waterbury State’s Attorney and the FBI.  Our community is a safer place today because of the diligence displayed by law enforcement officers as well as federal and state prosecutors in this investigation.”

“Today’s arrests are a clear indication to all criminal actors in Waterbury and across Connecticut that we are in the community working around the clock to end senseless violence, reduce fear, and to do our part to improve quality of life,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Sundberg.

The indictment charges Pulliam, Love, McDaniel, Ezra Alves, Bayon, Burrus, Jones, McKnight, Scott and Sinisterra with one count of conspiracy to engage in a pattern of racketeering activity, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years for Pulliam, Ezra Alves, Burrus, Jones, McKnight, Scott and Sinisterra.  Because it is alleged that Bayon, McDaniel and Love killed both Clarence Lewis and Antonio Santos in the course of a single transaction, they face a penalty of life imprisonment if convicted of this count.

In addition, McDaniel, Bayon, Love, Pulliam, Scott and Sinisterra are charged with murder in violation of the Violent Crimes in Aid of Racketeering (“VCAR”) statute.  This offense carries a mandatory term of imprisonment of life, or death if the government seeks the death penalty in this matter.

Cabrera, McDaniel, Sinisterra, Ezra Alves, McKnight, Scott and Pulliam are charged with multiple counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, attempted murder/aiding and abetting in assault with a dangerous weapon, and attempted murder, all in violation of the VCAR statute. The assault offense carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years and the attempted murder offenses carry a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years. These defendants are also charged with using and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, an offense that carries a mandatory consecutive sentence of at least 10 years.

Love and Graham are charged with obstruction of justice, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years.

Pulliam, Ezra Alves, Bayon, Burrus, Jones, McKnight, Ahmed Alves, Flemming, Wright and Blanding are charged with conspiring to distribute narcotics, including heroin and fentanyl. If convicted on this count they face a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years

Finally, the indictment charges Ezra Alves, Bayon and Wright with possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, which carries a mandatory consecutive term of imprisonment of at least five years.

Acting U.S. Attorney Boyle stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt.  Charges are only allegations, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This ongoing investigation is being conducted by the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force, ATF and Waterbury Police Department, with the assistance of the Watertown Police Department, New Milford Police Department and Connecticut Department of Correction.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Geoffrey M. Stone, John T. Pierpont, Jr. and Natasha M. Freismuth, and Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Cynthia S. Serafini and Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney Don E. Therkildesen, Jr. of the Waterbury State’s Attorney’s Office, who have been cross-designated as Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys in this matter.

This prosecution is a part of the Justice’s Department’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) and Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) programs.

PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.  Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JAVIER MARTINEZ, 41, of Meriden, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant in Hartford to 36 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release, for trafficking fentanyl.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in February 2020, law enforcement coordinated a controlled purchase of 100 grams of fentanyl from Martinez.  On February 13, 2020, investigators stopped Martinez’s vehicle after he arrived at an agreed upon location in West Haven.  A search of the car revealed approximately 100 grams of fentanyl, and a subsequent search of Martinez’s Meriden residence revealed approximately 180 grams of  fentanyl, more than 300 fentanyl pills, and items used to process and package narcotics for street sale.

On April 22, 2021, Martinez pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl.

Martinez, who is released on a $100,000 bond, is required to report to prison on October 18.

This matter was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration New Haven Task Force, Connecticut State Police Statewide Narcotics Task Force and West Haven Police Department.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Natasha M. Freismuth.