District of Connecticut

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Boston Field Division, today announced that a federal grand jury in New Haven returned an indictment yesterday charging NICHOLAS DeFELICE, 31, of Montville, with engaging in the business of dealing in and manufacturing firearms, and possession of unregistered National Firearms Act firearms.

As alleged in the indictment, between approximately January 2020 and February 2022, DeFelice manufactured and sold firearms without a license to do so.  On February 17, 2022, DeFelice possessed two rifles with barrels of less than 16 inches, and one silencer, which were not registered pursuant to the National Firearms Act.

The charge of engaging in the business of dealing in and manufacturing firearms carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years, and the charge of possession of unregistered National Firearms Act firearms carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.

The indictment also seeks the forfeiture of more than 50 additional firearms seized from DeFelice on February 17, 2022.

DeFelice appeared today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert M. Spector in New Haven and entered a pleas of not guilty to the charges.  He was released on a $100,000 bond.

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

This matter is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathaniel J. Gentile.

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that THEODORE ROOSEVELT OWENS, 22, of Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Omar A. Williams in Hartford to 37 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for offenses related to his possession of a stolen firearm and his role in a catalytic converter theft ring.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on October 21, 2021, Vernon Police arrested Owens in a hotel parking lot on outstanding warrants.  An investigation revealed that, shortly before his arrest, Owens possessed a loaded Zigana, Model PX-9 G2, 9mm pistol, which he had cause to believe was stolen, and approximately five grams of crack cocaine.  The firearm was part of a shipment of 50 Zigana PX-9G2 pistols that was stolen from an R&L Carriers warehouse in South Windsor in August 2021.

The investigation further revealed that Owens had conspired with others in the theft and sale of catalytic converters.  Between September 24 and October 17, 2021, Owens sold a co-conspirator $26,320 worth of catalytic converters, including converters that Owens knew were stolen.  Owens’ co-conspirator transported the converters to other businesses, including businesses in New York and New Jersey, for further resale and profit.

Owens has been detained since his arrest.  On February 9, 2023, he pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful possession of a stolen firearm and one count of conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen property.

The firearm theft investigation is being conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), and the South Windsor Police Department and East Hartford Police Department.  The catalytic converter investigation is being led by the ATF, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division (IRS-CI), and the East Hartford Police Department.  These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren C. Clark and A. Reed Durham.

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that PAUL PROSANO, also known as “Tony Pro,” 63, of Brooklyn, New York, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to 360 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for offenses stemming from the robbery of Marco Jewelers in Stamford in March 2020.  During the robbery, the owner of Marco Jewelers was shot and killed.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on March 28, 2020, at approximately 2:48 p.m., Stamford Police Officers responded to Marco Jewelers, located at 16 Sixth Street in Stamford.  When officers arrived, they found evidence of a robbery and encountered the storeowner, Mark Vuono, lying on the ground in front of an open safe.  Emergency medical personnel arrived and pronounced Vuono deceased.

Investigators collected and analyzed surveillance video from Marco Jewelers, surrounding businesses and Stamford city cameras.  Video obtained from Marco Jewelers revealed that, on March 28, 2020, Prosano drove Robert Rallo and Thomas Liberatore in a black Jaguar to Marco Jewelers.  Rallo and Liberatore then entered the store.  Rallo, armed with a handgun, engaged in a physical altercation with Vuono, while Liberatore stole items from the display cases.  Vuono, who also possessed a firearm, and Rallo struggled next to a large open safe.  During the more than three-minute struggle, Rallo reached into the safe and pulled out a third firearm, a .357 Magnum revolver.  Rallo subsequently shot and killed Vuono with the .357 revolver.

Between $360,000 and $430,000 worth of jewelry was stolen during the robbery.

Following the robbery, law enforcement located the black Jaguar in Staten Island and maintained surveillance on the vehicle.  On March 31, 2020, at approximately 5:30 p.m., a black BMW X3, driven by Prosano, pulled up beside the black Jaguar.  Rallo exited the rear door of the BMW and entered the driver’s door of a black Jaguar.  The two vehicles then left the area and rapidly accelerated.  The Jaguar crashed on Tompkins Street.  Rallo attempted to flee on foot, but was quickly apprehended.  The BMW crashed into a tree and parked car at the intersection of Daniel Low Terrace and Corson Avenue.  Prosano also attempted to flee and was apprehended.

A search of the BMW revealed 63 rings, eight bracelets, two tie pins, an earring and a cufflink, and a search of Prosano’s residence revealed 23 pairs of earrings and three rings.  These items were stolen from Marco Jewelers.

Liberatore was arrested on April 1, 2020.

Prosano has been detained since his arrest.  On December 19, 2022, a jury found Prosano and Liberatore guilty of interference with commerce by robbery (Hobbs Act robbery) and interstate transportation of stolen property.  Liberatore was also found guilty of aiding and abetting the use of a firearm to cause a death during a robbery.

Prosano’s criminal history, which includes multiple robbery convictions, spans more than 40 years.  He met Rallo and Liberatore while incarcerated within the New York State Department of Corrections.

On April 5, 2022, Rallo pleaded guilty to Hobbs Act robbery, interstate transportation of stolen property, and using a firearm to cause a death during a robbery.  On March 1, 2023, he was sentenced to 40 years of imprisonment.

Liberatore awaits sentencing.

This investigation has been conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Stamford Police Department and Greenwich Police Department, with the assistance of the New York Police Department, Yonkers (N.Y.) Police Department and New Rochelle (N.Y.) Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jocelyn Courtney Kaoutzanis, Rahul Kale and Margaret Donovan.

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that DAQUAN LAMONT WRIGHT, 26, of Bridgeport, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in Bridgeport to a firearm offense stemming from his illegal trafficking of firearms.

According to court documents and statements made in court, an investigation determined that Wright was illegally selling firearms without a license.  In January and February 2023, investigators made three controlled purchases of handguns from Wright.  One of the handguns had been reported stolen in North Carolina.  During the investigation, Wright indicated that he possessed, and had access to, other firearms and firearm parts.

Wright was arrested on March 13, 2023.  On that date, a search of his Bridgeport residence revealed a Glock Model 43 handgun, ammunition, and various gun parts.

Wright was previously convicted in state court of theft of a firearm, and possession with intent to sell narcotics.  It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce.

Wright pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 15 years.  A sentencing date is not scheduled.

Wright has been detained since his arrest.

This investigation has been conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Connecticut State Police, and the Bridgeport, Fairfield, and Stamford Police Departments.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jocelyn Courtney Kaoutzanis through the Justice’s Department’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) program.

PSN, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts, 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.

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that BRANDON BATISTE, also known as “B,” 35, of Springfield, Massachusetts, pleaded guilty today in New Haven federal court to offenses stemming from his role in the kidnapping and murder of a Massachusetts man in 2020.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on December 24, 2020, Batiste and Calvin Roberson, also known as “Cutty,” kidnapped Francisco Roman, Jr., 28, at gunpoint from his residence in Chicopee, Massachusetts.  Batiste and Roberson threatened to harm Roman if he did not comply with their orders, handcuffed him, and stole cash, marijuana, and other items from Roman.  Batiste and Roberson forced Roman into the rear of Roman’s 2010 Acura ZDX, and transported Roman and the other stolen property to Connecticut.  Batiste shot and killed Roman while the car was en route to Hartford.  They then drove to the car Shultas Place in Hartford and left it parked on the street.

Shortly before 9 p.m. on December 26, 2020, Hartford police and fire personnel responded to Shultas Place and found the car engulfed in flames.  After the fire was extinguished, investigators discovered Roman’s body with multiple gunshot wounds in the rear of the vehicle.

Batiste pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit kidnaping, and one count of causing the death of a person through the use of a firearm.  Under the terms of a binding plea agreement, if accepted by the court, Batiste will be sentenced to between 30 and 45 years of imprisonment.  He is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Omar A. Williams in Hartford on September 22.

Batiste has been detained since his arrest on February 11, 2021.

Roberson pleaded guilty to the same charges on April 27, 2023, and is detained while awaiting sentencing.

This investigation is being conducted by the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force, FBI’s Springfield Gang Task Force, Massachusetts State Police, Hampden County (Mass.) District Attorney’s Office, Hartford Police Department’s Major Crimes Division, Chicopee Police Department and Springfield Police Department, with the assistance of the Waterbury Police Department and the FBI’s Atlanta Field Office.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian P. Leaming and Angel M. Krull.

U.S. Attorney Avery thanked the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts for their assistance in this matter.

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JASHON SPEARMAN, also known as “J ” and “Deuce,” 35, of New Haven, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Sarala V. Nagala in Hartford to a narcotics conspiracy offense stemming from his leadership of a New Haven area drug trafficking ring.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in the fall of 2021, the New Haven Safe Streets/Gang Task Force and New Haven Police Department began investigating Spearman and others for the distribution of fentanyl, heroin crack and cocaine in and around the West Hills neighborhood, including the McConaughy Terrace housing complex located on South Genesee Street in New Haven.  The investigation, which included court-authorized wiretaps, fixed video surveillance and controlled purchases of narcotics, revealed that Spearman was receiving fentanyl and heroin from James Hillard, of New York, and shipments of kilogram quantities of cocaine through the U.S. Mail from Puerto Rico, which were arranged by Jean Mangual-Castro, also known as “Mangui,” of West Haven.  Spearman then distributed the drugs to others, several of whom processed, packaged, and sold fentanyl and crack at the McConaughy Terrace housing complex.

On February 4, 2022, investigators arrested Spearman and Hillard after they met in the Bronx and a search of Hillard’s car revealed more than 7,000 folds of heroin/fentanyl and approximately $30,000 in cash.

On February 8, investigators executed court-authorized search warrants at several locations, including a residence on Ward Street in New Haven where Spearman distributed narcotics, and vehicles in which Spearman was suspected of storing narcotics.  A search of a minivan revealed approximately 19 kilograms of cocaine; a search of a vehicle registered to Spearman revealed $750,400 in cash, assorted jewelry and a quantity of fentanyl; and a search of the Ward Street residence revealed additional cash, several money counters, and numerous cellphones.  The search also found and seized five firearms.

On February 15, 2022, a grand jury in New Haven returned an indictment charging Spearman, Hilliard and six co-defendants with narcotics trafficking offenses.  On April 19, 2022, Spearman, Mangual-Castro, and two others were charged in a separate indictment with offenses related to the trafficking of cocaine through the mail from Puerto Rico. 

Spearman pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five or more kilograms of cocaine, 40 grams or more of fentanyl, and a quantity of cocaine base (“crack”) and heroin.  Judge Nagala scheduled sentencing for October 16, at which time Spearman faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life.  He has been detained since his arrest.

Spearman has agreed to forfeiture of the seized cash, firearms, and three vehicles.

All 11 defendants charged during this investigation have now pleaded guilty.  On May 11, 2023, Mangual-Castro was sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment.  Hilliard and several other defendants await sentencing.

This investigation has been conducted by the FBI’s New Haven Safe Streets/Gang Task Force, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Narcotics and Bulk Cash Trafficking Task Force, and the New Haven Police Department.  The FBI’s New Haven Safe Streets/Gang Task Force includes participants from the New Haven Police Department, Milford Police Department, East Haven Police Department, West Haven Police Department, Connecticut State Police, and the Connecticut Department of Correction.  The U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Narcotics and Bulk Cash Trafficking Task Force includes members from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Postal Service – Office of the Inspector General, the Connecticut Army National Guard, and the Hartford, New Britain, Meriden, and Town of Groton Police Departments.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anthony E. Kaplan and Kenneth L. Gresham 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.

JAUWAN EDWARDS, also known as “Yaya,” 25, of Bridgeport, pleaded guilty yesterday before U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to a racketeering offense stemming from his involvement in a violent Bridgeport street gang.

Today’s announcement was made by Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut; Joseph T. Corradino, State’s Attorney for the Fairfield Judicial District; Bridgeport Police Chief Roderick Porter; Robert Fuller, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Boston Field Division; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England, and Acting U.S. Marshal Lawrence Bobnick.

According to court documents and statements made in court, the FBI, ATF, DEA, U.S. Marshals Service, Connecticut State Police and Bridgeport Police have been investigating multiple Bridgeport-based gangs whose members are involved in narcotics trafficking, murder and other acts of violence.  Edwards was a member of the Original North End (“O.N.E.”), a gang based in the Trumbull Gardens area of Bridgeport that committed acts of violence against rival gangs, including the East End gang, the East Side gang, and the PT Barnum gang.  O.N.E. members also robbed drug dealers, customers and others, sold narcotics, and stole cars from inside and outside Connecticut, often using the cars to commit crimes.  They frequently used social media to promote and coordinate their criminal activities.

Analysis of numerous social media posts and text messages revealed that Edwards possessed firearms, and that he sold a variety of drugs, including fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, crack, Percocet pills, and marijuana.  Edwards also participated with other O.N.E. members in the theft and possession of stolen vehicles, including a Lexus Rx350 that was stolen from Rye, New York.

In early December 2019, O.N.E. members were involved in multiple shots-fired incidents in Bridgeport.  In one incident, the mother of two East End gang members was shot outside of her Bridgeport home.  In another incident, on December 8, 2019, O.N.E. members used the stolen Lexus in a shooting incident at the P.T. Barnum Housing Complex, and then drove it to Newfield Avenue in Bridgeport, considered the turf of the East End/East Side gang, where they shot and killed Ty’Quess Moore, also known as “Breezo,” 18.

Edwards has been detained since his arrest on July 27, 2021.

Edwards pleaded guilty to one count of racketeering conspiracy, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.  Judge Dooley scheduled sentencing for September 27.

This investigation is being conducted by the FBI’s Safe Streets and Violent Crimes Task Forces, ATF, DEA, U.S. Marshals Service, Bridgeport Police Department, Connecticut State Police and the Bridgeport State’s Attorney’s Office, with the assistance of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Connecticut Forensic Science Laboratory and the Naugatuck Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karen L. Peck, Tara E. Levens, Patrick J. Doherty, Rahul Kale, and Jocelyn C. Kaoutzanis.

This prosecution is a part of the Justice’s Department’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), Project Longevity 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.

Project Longevity is a comprehensive initiative to reduce gun violence in Connecticut’s major cities.  Through Project Longevity, community members and law enforcement directly engage with members of groups that are prone to commit violence and deliver a community message against violence, a law enforcement message about the consequences of further violence and an offer of help for those who want it.  If a group member elects to engage in gun violence, the focused attention of federal, state and local law enforcement will be directed at that entire group.

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, Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England, and Stratford Police Department Chief Joseph McNeil today announced that EDWARD JOHNSON, 31, of Stratford, has been charged by indictment with unlawfully distributing methamphetamine and oxycodone.

As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, in April 2022, the Stratford Police Department’s Narcotics, Vice and Intelligence Unit and the Drug Enforcement Administration began investigating Johnson and others for distributing controlled substances in the Stratford and Bridgeport area.

Johnson was arrested on state charges on August 2, 2022.  On that date, investigators conducted a court authorized search of Johnson’s residence on Thompson Street in Stratford and seized approximately 967 grams of methamphetamine in both pill form and powder form, approximately 13 grams of oxycodone pills; other prescription pills, more than six pounds of marijuana, and $32,151 in cash.

On June 20, 2023, a grand jury in New Haven returned an indictment charging Johnson with one count of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and a quantity of oxycodone, an offense that carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years.

Johnson, who has been detained since his arrest, appeared today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Maria E. Garcia in New Haven and entered a plea of not guilty.

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

This matter is being investigated by the Stratford Police Department’s Narcotics, Vice and Intelligence Unit and the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Bridgeport High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force.  The HIDTA Task Force includes personnel from the DEA Bridgeport Resident Office, the Connecticut State Police, and the Bridgeport, Norwalk, Stamford, Stratford, Milford, and Danbury Police Departments.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie T. Levick.

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that LUIS JAVIER LOPEZ, 24, of New Britain, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford to 42 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release for unlawfully possessing a firearm and ammunition.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on February 26, 2022, Hartford Police attempted to stop a car that Lopez was driving, and which was reported to be involved in two shots fired incidents in the weeks prior.  After Lopez fled, police deployed tire deflation devices during the pursuit to disable Lopez’s car.  Lopez continued to drive his disabled car for several miles before he crashed into a vehicle stopped at a red light on the Berlin Turnpike in Wethersfield.  Lopez ran from his car and was arrested in the vicinity of a motel on Arrow Road.

At the time of his arrest, Lopez possessed a high-capacity magazine loaded with 16 rounds of 9mm ammunition.  Officers also located a 9mm firearm on the other side of a fence where Lopez had been running, and two spent 9mm shell casings by Lopez’s car.  Analysis of the firearm and recovered shell casings via the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) connected them to each other, and to the two shots fired incidents involving his car.

Lopez was previously convicted in state court of possession with intent to sell a controlled substance.  It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce.

Lopez has been detained since his arrest.  On February 16, 2023, he pleaded guilty to possession of ammunition by a felon.

This matter was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Hartford Police Department.  This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephanie T. Levick and Angel M. Krull through the Justice’s Department’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) program.

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.

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that SHAQUAN SAUNDERS, also known as “Sosa Da Billy,” 28, of Uncasville, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Janet C. Hall in New Haven to 40 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for unlawful possession of a firearm.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on August 7, 2020, New London Police officers investigating a string of shootings conducted a court-authorized search of a car that Saunders had occupied and recovered a loaded .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol, a spent .45 caliber shell casing, and a live .380 caliber round.  Subsequent forensic analysis of the handgun revealed the presence of Saunders’ DNA, and additional analysis of the firearm and recovered shell casing via the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) connected them to a shooting incident that occurred on Blydenburg Avenue in New London on August 5, 2020.

Saunders’ criminal history includes multiple felony convictions.

Saunders has been detained since September 21, 2020.  On April 4, 2023, he pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a felon.

This investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the New London Police Department.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Natasha M. Freismuth through the Justice’s Department’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) program

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.

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that LUIS ROBLES, also known as “Lou,” 26, of Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford to 42 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for fentanyl distribution and gun possession offenses.

According to court documents and statements made in court, this matter stems from an investigation into gang-related drug trafficking and firearm possession by members of Los Solidos.  The investigation, which included court-authorized wiretaps, revealed that Luis Feliciano, also known as “Louminaty,” distributed fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, and crack to customers and other distributors in the Hartford area, including Jose Tirado, also known as “Joselito” and “Leet,” and also to individuals in New York and Maine.  Tirado further distributed fentanyl to Robles, who sold the drug to customers in Hartford’s North End, including the SANA apartment complex located on Main Street in Hartford, which is commonly referred to as the “Sands,” where Robles lived.

Robles was arrested on March 9, 2022.  On that date, a court-authorized search of his residence revealed approximately 850 wax sleeves of fentanyl, 12 grams of loose fentanyl, approximately 15 grams of crack cocaine, assorted drug paraphernalia, a loaded 9mm pistol that had been reported stolen in December 2020, a loaded .357 magnum revolver with an obliterated serial number, a loaded .22 caliber pistol, and more than 100 rounds of ammunition.

On June 8, 2022, a grand jury returned an indictment charging Robles, Feliciano, Tirado, and 13 others with various narcotics distribution and firearm possession offenses.

On January 31, 2023, Robles pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, and one count of possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number.  Robles has been detained since his arrest.

Feliciano and Tirado have pleaded guilty and await sentencing.

This investigation has been conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force and the Hartford Police Department.  The Task Force includes members of the FBI, Hartford Police Department, East Hartford Police Department, New Britain Police Department, West Hartford Police Department, Connecticut State Police and Connecticut Department of Correction.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian P. Leaming and Robert S. Ruff. 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 JOSE RIVERA, also known as “Chepo,” 43, last residing in East Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in Bridgeport to 71 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release, for narcotics and firearm offenses.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in June 2021, the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force and Hartford Police Department made controlled purchases of distribution quantities of fentanyl and crack cocaine from Rivera and his associate, Elvin Gonzalez, also known as “Peewee.”

Rivera and Gonzalez were arrested on June 25, 2021.  On that date, a search of Rivera’s East Hartford residence revealed approximately 162 grams of loose fentanyl, 300 dose bags of fentanyl, items used to process and package narcotics for street sale, a handgun and a loaded magazine, and more than $19,000 in cash.  A search of Gonzalez’s Hartford residence revealed approximately 4,000 dose bags of fentanyl, approximately 139 grams of crack, approximately 18 grams of cocaine, two loaded handguns, a loaded rifle, and additional rounds of ammunition. 

At the time of his arrest, Rivera was on parole after having served approximately 20 years in prison for committing a gang-related murder and a separate non-fatal shooting in 1997.

It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce.

On January 5, 2023, Rivera pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, and one count of possession of a firearm by a felon.

Gonzalez pleaded guilty to the same charges on November 10, 2021.  On February 1, 2023, he was sentenced to 87 months of imprisonment.

The FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force includes members of the Hartford Police Department, East Hartford Police Department, New Britain Police Department, West Hartford Police Department, Connecticut State Police and Connecticut Department of Correction.  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian P. Leaming.

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, announced that MELISSA PEZZOLO, 66, of New Milford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in Bridgeport to 13 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for tax offenses.

According to court documents and statements made in court, for nearly 20 years, Pezzolo was employed as the office manager and bookkeeper for a nursery and landscaping services company in Bethel.  Pezzolo was responsible for managing the company’s books and invoices, paying the company’s bills, and handling the company’s payroll and employment tax obligations.  She also was responsible for coordinating with the company’s tax return preparer who prepared the yearly filed corporate tax returns.

Beginning in or before 2014 and continuing through 2018, Pezzolo willfully failed to file any employment tax returns (Forms 941) and failed to make any related payments of withholding taxes on behalf of the company.  Nevertheless, she continued to distribute paychecks to employees that withheld employees’ income and FICA taxes.  She accounted for the withholdings on the employees’ annual W-2 forms, which she continued to issue, though she did not provide the W-2 forms or pay the related withholding taxes to the IRS or the Social Security Administration.  She also failed to pay the company’s own share of FICA taxes.

With respect to her own withholdings, Pezzolo neither withheld nor paid her withholding taxes to the IRS, nor issued herself any W-2 forms between approximately 2010 and 2018.

Pezzolo also has admitted that she stole more than $400,000 from her employer by giving herself raises that were not authorized and by paying personal expenses using the company’s corporate bank account and company credit card.

Judge Bolden ordered Pezzolo to pay to the IRS restitution of $1,329,314, which reflects $1,170,992 in unpaid company payroll taxes and $158,322 in unpaid personal income taxes for the 2014 through 2018 tax years.

On January 17, 2023, Pezzolo pleaded guilty to one count of willful failure to collect or pay over tax, and one count of tax evasion of assessment. 

Pezzolo, who is released on bond, is required to report to prison on August 1.

This investigation was conducted by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elena L. Coronado and Christopher W. Schmeisser.

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Michael J. Krol, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), New England, today announced that KARINA CINTRON SANTIAGO, 24, of San Juan, Puerto Rico, had been charged with trafficking 12 kilograms of cocaine into Connecticut.

As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, on June 4, 2023, a search of a luggage bag that Cintron Santiago checked prior to boarding a JetBlue flight from San Juan Airport to Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks, Connecticut, revealed approximately 12 kilograms of cocaine.  When Cintron Santiago arrived in Connecticut and discovered that her bag was not at baggage claim, she reported it lost.  JetBlue personnel informed Cintron Santiago that when her bag was located they would deliver it to her, but she indicated that she would rather pick it up at the airport.  On June 7, undercover investigators posing as JetBlue personnel contacted Cintron Santiago to inform her that her bag had been located and would be arriving on a flight to Bradley International Airport the next day.

On June 8, 2023, investigators placed Cintron Santiago’s bag, which contained its original contents, on a luggage carousel at Bradley International Airport.  Cintron Santiago was arrested after she arrived at the airport and removed her bag from the luggage carousel.

On June 20, 2023, a grand jury in New Haven returned an indictment charging Cintron Santiago with possession with intent to distribute cocaine.  Cintron Santiago, who had been detained since her arrest, appeared yesterday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert A. Richardson in Hartford, entered a plea of not guilty to the charge, and was released on a $75,000 bond.

The charge of possession with intent to distribute cocaine carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.  U.S. Attorney Avery stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. A charge is only an allegation, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This matter is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) with the assistance of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the Puerto Rico Police Bureau.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey M. Stone.

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that TIMOTHY STATON, 28, of Bridgeport, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Omar A. Williams in Hartford to unlawful possession of ammunition by a felon, and to violating the conditions of his supervised release from a prior federal conviction.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in September 2018, Bridgeport Police officers arrested Staton after he discarded a 9mm handgun during a pursuit.  Staton, who had previously been convicted in state court of narcotics, firearm, and racketeering offenses, subsequently pleaded guilty in federal court to unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon and, on June 3, 2019, was sentenced to 37 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release.  He was released from federal prison in May 2022.

On December 13, 2022, Bridgeport Police officers arrested Staton after they found him in possession of a loaded semi-automatic 9mm privately manufactured firearm (“ghost gun”).

At sentencing, which is not scheduled, Staton faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 15 years for the firearm offense, and an additional penalty for the violating the conditions of his supervised release.  Staton has been detained since his arrest.

This matter has been investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Bridgeport Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jocelyn Courtney Kaoutzanis through the Justice’s Department’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) program.

PSN, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts, 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.

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that DUANE FILYAW, 40, of New Haven, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to 120 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for trafficking cocaine and heroin.

This matter stems from a joint investigation headed by the DEA New Haven Task Force, FBI and New Haven Police Department that included the use of court-authorized wiretaps, controlled purchases of heroin and cocaine, and seizures of bulk heroin and cocaine.  The investigation revealed that Filyaw operated a heroin and cocaine trafficking ring in which he conspired with others to purchase narcotics from suppliers and then distribute the drugs to other suppliers of street-level dealers in and around New Haven.

During the investigation, law enforcement officers seized more than 500 grams of heroin, more than 300 grams of fentanyl, more than one kilogram of cocaine, three firearms, over $90,000 in cash, vehicles, jewelry and precious metals.

On April 19, 2018, a grand jury in New Haven returned an indictment charging Filyaw and 18 other individuals with narcotics trafficking offenses.

Filyaw was arrested on April 25, 2018.  On February 13, 2020, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin and five kilograms or more of cocaine.

The DEA New Haven Task Force includes participants from the DEA, U.S. Marshals Service, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, Connecticut State Police and the New Haven, Waterbury, East Haven, Branford, West Haven, Ansonia, Meriden, Naugatuck, and Shelton Police Departments.  The Connecticut Department of Correction, Milford Police Department and East Haven Police Department have assisted the investigation.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jocelyn Courtney Kaoutzanis 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.

TYRONE MOORE, also known as “Ty Ralph Lauren,” 21, of Bridgeport, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in Bridgeport to 250 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for his involvement in a violent Bridgeport street gang and his role in the murder of a rival in July 2019.

Today’s announcement was made by Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut; Joseph T. Corradino, State’s Attorney for the Fairfield Judicial District; Bridgeport Police Chief Roderick Porter; Robert Fuller, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Boston Field Division; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England, and Acting U.S. Marshal Lawrence Bobnick.

According to court documents and statements made in court, the FBI, ATF, DEA, U.S. Marshals Service and Bridgeport Police have been investigating multiple Bridgeport-based gangs whose members are involved in narcotics trafficking, murder and other acts of violence.  Moore has been a member of the “East End gang,” which began as a local street gang based in the East End of Bridgeport, but currently has members and associates who are either incarcerated or living throughout Bridgeport and surrounding towns.  The East End gang has been aligned with other groups, including the PT Barnum Gang, the East Side gang and 150, which is a geographic gang based on the West Side of Bridgeport.  These groups were aligned against rival organizations in Bridgeport, including the “Original North End” (“O.N.E.”) and the “Greene Homes Boyz,” (“GHB/Hotz”), based in the Charles F. Greene Homes Housing Complex in Bridgeport’s North End.

Moore and other East End members distributed heroin, crack cocaine, marijuana and Percocet pills; used and shared firearms; and committed at least six murders and other acts of violence against rival gang members and other individuals.  East End members celebrated their criminal conduct on social media websites such as Facebook and YouTube, and committed acts of intimidation and made threats to deter potential witnesses to their crimes and to protect gang members and associates from detection and prosecution by law enforcement authorities.

On July 5, 2022, Moore pleaded guilty to one count conspiracy to engage in a pattern of racketeering activity and specifically admitted that, on July 12, 2019, he and another East End member shot and killed Sean Warren, also known as “Kujoe,” a member and associate of the O.N.E. gang.

Moore has been detained since October 4, 2019.

This investigation is being conducted by the FBI’s Safe Streets and Violent Crimes Task Forces, ATF, DEA, U.S. Marshals Service, Bridgeport Police Department, Connecticut State Police and the Bridgeport State’s Attorney’s Office, with the assistance of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Connecticut Forensic Science Laboratory and the Waterbury Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephanie T. Levick, Rahul Kale, and Jocelyn C. Kaoutzanis.

This prosecution is a part of the Justice’s Department’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), Project Longevity 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.

Project Longevity is a comprehensive initiative to reduce gun violence in Connecticut’s major cities.  Through Project Longevity, community members and law enforcement directly engage with members of groups that are prone to commit violence and deliver a community message against violence, a law enforcement message about the consequences of further violence and an offer of help for those who want it.  If a group member elects to engage in gun violence, the focused attention of federal, state and local law enforcement will be directed at that entire group.

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 RASHAWN SAMMS, 30, of Hamden, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Sarala V. Nagala in Hartford to 60 months of imprisonment, followed by two years of supervised release, for unlawfully possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on June 4, 2022, New Haven Police officers arrested Samms on state charges after he conducted a hand-to-hand drug transaction from his car and officers found him in possession of a loaded Smith & Wesson .40 caliber handgun, distribution quantities of cocaine, crack, fentanyl, and marijuana; two digital scales; and $628 in cash.

Analysis of the seized handgun, which was not registered to Samms, revealed that it had been purchased at a pawn shop in South Carolina in November 2018, and had been used in two shots-fired incidents in Hartford in 2021.

On April 3, 2023, Samms pleaded guilty in federal court to possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.  Samms has been detained since that date.

This investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the New Haven Police Department.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tara E. Levens through the Justice’s Department’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) program.

PSN, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts, 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.

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that GREGORY C. BANKS, 50, of Brookfield, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford to 30 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for health care fraud.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Banks owned and operated North East Counseling & Trauma Services and Gregory Banks Counseling, LLC.  North East Counseling & Trauma Services, which had an office in Danbury, provided counseling services to individual patients, including those with mental health and trauma issues.  Banks was enrolled individually as a Behavioral Health Clinician provider in the Connecticut Medicaid Program (“Medicaid”), but North East Counseling & Trauma Services and Gregory Banks Counseling LLC were never enrolled as providers in Medicaid.

Between January 2018 and July 2022, Banks submitted and caused to be submitted fraudulent claims to Medicaid for counseling services that were purportedly provided to Medicaid clients.  Specifically, Banks submitted claims for dates of service when no services of any kind had been provided to the Medicaid clients identified in the claims. 

In October 2020, the Connecticut Department of Social Services (DSS) audited Banks and his businesses and requested documentation from Banks for six sample clients.  In response, Banks made multiple false statements for the purpose of delaying the progress of DSS’s audit and to conceal his offense.  For example, in February 2021, Banks sent an email to DSS in which he falsely represented that one of the files DSS requested was destroyed by a water leak above his office when, in fact, no such water leak had occurred.

Through this scheme, Banks defrauded Medicaid of $1,044,387.08.  Judge Shea ordered Banks to pay full restitution.

Banks, who is released on a $100,000 bond, is required to report to prison on September 8.

This investigation was conducted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  U.S. Attorney Avery acknowledged the valuable cooperation of the Connecticut Department of Social Services in the investigation.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David T. Huang.

People who suspect health care fraud are encouraged to report it by calling 1-800-HHS-TIPS.

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that GREGORY T. WILLS, also known as “G Money,” “G” and “Greg Jamison,” 41, of Norwalk, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer in New Haven to 120 months, followed by five years of supervised release, for fentanyl distribution and firearm possession offenses.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in the summer of 2020, members of the FBI’s Bridgeport Safe Streets Task Force and Norwalk Police Department made multiple controlled purchases of fentanyl from Wills.  On September 23, 2020, investigators conducted a court-authorized search of a Norwalk residence that Wills used as a “stash” location and seized approximately 60 grams of fentanyl, items used to process and package narcotics for street sale, four handguns, and numerous rounds of ammunition.  Investigators located Wills later that day at another location in Norwalk.  He discarded a loaded handgun as he attempted to flee but was quickly apprehended.

The investigation also revealed that in May 2018, one of Wills’ drug customers died of an overdose of fentanyl and heroin.

Wills has been detained since his arrest.  On January 23, 2023, Wills pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense.

Wills’ criminal history includes a 2003 federal conviction, under the name Greg Jamison, for distributing crack cocaine, which resulted in a 108-month prison term.

This matter was investigated by the FBI’s Bridgeport Safe Streets Task Force and the Norwalk Police Department.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah P. Karwan and Karen L. Peck 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, today announced that HECTOR TORRES, 34, of Monroe, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Robert N. Chatigny in Hartford to 300 months of imprisonment, followed by 10 years of supervised release, for child exploitation offenses related to his sexual abuse of three minor girls.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Torres used Snapchat, FaceTime and text messaging to communicate with three minor girls, ages 11 and 12, and coerce them to send him naked pictures of themselves and to engage in sexual activity with him.  On multiple occasions in February 2021, Torres picked up the girls in his car and brought them to a shopping plaza parking lot in Hartford where they each engaged in sexual activity with Torres at his direction.  Torres promised to give the girls money, sneakers, vaping supplies, and/or food if they sent him photos of their bodies and/or engaged in sex acts with him.  In March 2021, investigators reviewed at least three videos of Torres’s sexual abuse of the girls.

Torres has been detained since his arrest on April 13, 2021.  On March 8, 2023, he pleaded guilty to two counts of coercion and enticement of minors to engage in sexual activity, and one count of production of child pornography.

This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Hartford Police Department, the Monroe Police Department, and the Connecticut Child Exploitation Task Force, which includes federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Angel M. Krull through the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation.

For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com.

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Boston Field Division, and Colonel Stavros Mellekas of the Connecticut State Police today announced that GREGORY LEARY, 35, of Wolcott, pleaded guilty yesterday before Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to manufacturing and dealing AR-15-style firearms without a license.

According to court documents and statements made in court, between January and March 2022, Leary received Polymer80 firearms kits from another individual and assembled them in the basement of his Wolcott residence.  On three occasions during that period, Leary provided to that individual eight AR-15-style assault rifles with collapsible stocks and 30-round magazines; a “P80” 9mm semi-automatic handgun with a fully loaded, 10-round magazine; 190 rounds of .223 ammunition; one “Magtec” box containing 50 rounds of .40 caliber ammunition; and one “Independence” box containing 50 rounds of 9mm ammunition.  The assault rifles and 9mm handgun contained no serial numbers.

In pleading guilty, Leary admitted that he manufactured and dealt a total of more than 25 firearms to the same individual knowing that the individual was selling the firearms to others.

Judge Underhill scheduled sentencing for September 25, at which time Leary faces a maximum term of imprisonment of five years.  Leary is released on a $20,000 bond pending sentencing.

This matter is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), the Connecticut State Police Statewide Firearms Trafficking Task Force (SFTTF) and Statewide Urban Violence Cooperative Crime Control Task Force (SUVCCCTF/Gangs Unit), assisted by the Statewide Narcotics Task Force (SNTF) Southwest and North Central Offices, and the Bridgeport, Shelton, Orange, Waterbury, and Hartford Police Departments.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tara E. Levens and Rahul Kale through 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.

Earlier today, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland and Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco convened a meeting with the Criminal Division, FBI, ATF, DEA, U.S. Marshals Service, and all 93 U.S. Attorneys to discuss ongoing efforts to reduce violent crime and combat the gun violence that fuels it.  To learn more about these efforts, visit https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/fact-sheet-update-justice-department-s-ongoing-efforts-tackle-gun-violence.

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that MARK ROMAN, 54, of East Windsor, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant in Hartford to 400 months of imprisonment*, followed by a lifetime term of supervised release, for recording his repeated sexual abuse of a minor.

According to court documents and statements made in court, law enforcement began investigating Roman after the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received a report that Roman’s email account was transmitting images of child sexual abuse.  Investigators determined that Roman’s email account also contained voyeuristic images and videos of naked children that appeared to be homemade.

On November 2, 2021, the Connecticut State Police and East Windsor Police Department executed a state search warrant at Roman’s residence and seized Roman’s iPhone, laptop, and computer storage devices.  Analysis of the seized revealed more than 1,000 images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children, including images and videos of Roman sexually abusing a girl who was between the ages of six and eight.  The seized images also included numerous voyeuristic videos that Roman secretly took of the minor victim, another minor female who was between the ages of two and four, and adult victims.

Roman has been detained since his arrest on November 29, 2021.  On January 11, 2023, he pleaded guilty to one count of production of child pornography, and one count of possession of child pornography.

This matter was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Connecticut State Police, with the assistance of the East Windsor Police Departments.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nancy V. Gifford.

U.S. Attorney Avery thanked the Hartford State’s Attorney’s Office for its cooperation in the investigation and prosecution of this case.

This prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com.

*On June 29, 2023, Judge Bryant issued an amended judgment correcting Roman's sentence to 360 months of imprisonment.

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that RAHSHIM CARTER, 34, of Bridgeport, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to 54 months of imprisonment, followed by three years for supervised release, for unlawfully possessing a firearm.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in January 2013, Carter was sentenced in Hartford federal court to 18 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release for distributing heroin in and around the Trumbull Gardens housing complex in Bridgeport.  He was released from prison in September 2013.  In February 2014, Carter was arrested by Bridgeport Police after he was found in possession of a loaded .380 caliber handgun and heroin that he intended to distribute.  He pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon and, on January 30, 2015, was sentenced in Hartford federal court to 62 months of imprisonment for the offense, and for violating the conditions of his supervised release. 

In November 2016, while Carter was incarcerated in a federal prison in New Hampshire, he was found in possession of a homemade weapon (“shank”) and a quantity of Suboxone, a controlled substance.  He was charged in the District of New Hampshire, pleaded guilty and, on January 22, 2018, was sentenced to an additional 18 months of imprisonment.  He was released from prison in March 2020.

On April 20, 2022, members of the U.S. Marshals Service Violent Fugitive Task Force, Connecticut State Police and Bridgeport Police Department sought to arrest Carter for violating his supervised release.  Carter was located and arrested in an apartment in the Green Homes Housing Complex in Bridgeport.  At the time of his arrest he possessed a loaded .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol, and quantities of heroin and crack cocaine.

Carter has been detained since his arrest.  On November 17, 2022, he pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.

This investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), U.S. Marshals Service Violent Fugitive Task Force, Connecticut State Police and Bridgeport Police Department.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rahul Kale.

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.

Earlier today, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland and Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco convened a meeting with the Criminal Division, FBI, ATF, DEA, U.S. Marshals Service, and all 93 U.S. Attorneys to discuss ongoing efforts to reduce violent crime and combat the gun violence that fuels it.  To learn more about these efforts, visit https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/fact-sheet-update-justice-department-s-ongoing-efforts-tackle-gun-violence.

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that RONALDO SMITH, 25, of Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to 120 months of imprisonment for his involvement in a spree of violent robberies of AT&T stores in Connecticut and western Massachusetts.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in 2021, Smith, Alex Josephs, Shaquille Raymond, and Deshawn Baugh committed several violent armed robberies of AT&T stores in Connecticut and western Massachusetts.  The perpetrators typically entered the stores shortly before closing, pointed weapons at employees, and, at times, pistol-whipped, dragged and shoved employees toward the back inventory room.  They then held the employees at gunpoint while loading large bags with cell phones and other electronics.  The group stole hundreds of thousands of dollars in merchandise.  Saviana Bourne, who worked at AT&T stores, helped plan the robberies, served as a getaway driver, and coordinated the sale of the stolen merchandise.

The investigation revealed that Smith, Josephs, and Raymond robbed AT&T stores in Newington on January 29, 2021, and Enfield on February 24, 2021.  Baugh then joined the conspiracy and together they robbed an AT&T store in Canton on April 15, 2021, and attempted to rob stores in Torrington and Glastonbury in May 2021, but were locked out of the stores.

On June 6, 2021, Smith and his associates, armed with a semiautomatic pistol, two revolvers, and a semiautomatic rifle, robbed an AT&T store in West Springfield, Massachusetts.  After the robbery, they fled in a vehicle driven by Bourne, who led police on a high-speed chase that ended when their vehicle collided with a Massachusetts State Police cruiser.  Smith, Josephs, Raymond, Baugh, and Bourne were arrested, and a search of the vehicle revealed more than $150,000 in stolen merchandise, as well as the firearms used during the robbery.

Judge Underhill ordered Smith to pay restitution of $298,073.86, which reflects the losses from the Newington, Enfield, and Canton robberies. The property stolen in the West Springfield robbery was recovered.

Smith has been detained since his arrest.  On January 5, 2023, he pleaded guilty to one count of Hobbs Act robbery and one count of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.

Josephs, Raymond, Baugh, and Bourne also pleaded guilty.  On March 1, 2023, Baugh was sentenced to 108 months of imprisonment and was ordered to pay restitution of $124,842.45, which reflects the loss from the Canton robbery.  On March 29, 2023, Raymond was sentenced to 72 months of imprisonment and Bourne was sentenced to 78 months of imprisonment.  On May 23, 2023, Josephs was sentenced to 120 months of imprisonment.  Josephs, Raymond, and Bourne were also ordered to pay restitution of $298,073.86.

Josephs and Raymond, who are citizens of Jamaica, face immigration proceedings when they are released from prison.

This matter was investigated by the FBI’s Connecticut Violent Crimes Task Force with the assistance of the Massachusetts State Police and the Newington, Enfield, Canton, Torrington, Glastonbury, and West Springfield Police Departments.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert S. Ruff.

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ROBERTO ALICEA, 31, of New Britain, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Sarala V. Nagala in Hartford to offenses related to his participation in a stolen catalytic converter trafficking ring.

According to court documents and statements made in court, law enforcement has been investigating the theft of catalytic converters from motor vehicles across Connecticut.  A catalytic converter contains precious metals, can easily be removed from its vehicle, and is difficult to trace, making it a desirable target for thieves.  The average scrap price for catalytic converters currently varies between $300 and $1,500, depending on the model and type of precious metal component.

The investigation revealed that Downpipe Depot & Recycling LLC (“Downpipe Depot”), which had a warehouse on Park Avenue in East Hartford, purchased stolen catalytic converters from a network of thieves, including Alicea, and then transported and sold the catalytic converters to recycling businesses in New York and New Jersey.  Business records seized during the investigation revealed that, between December 2021 and May 2022, Downpipe Depot paid Alicea approximately $540,000 for catalytic converters.

Alicea pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen property, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years, and one count of interstate transportation of stolen property, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.  Judge Nagala scheduled sentencing for September 5.

Alicea has been detained since his arrest on August 23, 2022.

This investigation is being led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division (IRS-CI), and the East Hartford Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren C. Clark and A. Reed Durham.

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, announced that OMARI LEWIS, 24, of East Hartford, was arrested today on an indictment charging him with fentanyl distribution offenses.

As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, in December 2021, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Tactical Diversion Squad began investigating Lewis and others for distributing fentanyl in the East Hartford and Manchester area.  In December 2021 and January 2022, investigators made two controlled purchases of fentanyl from Lewis.

On June 7, 2023, a grand jury in New Haven returned an indictment charging Lewis with two counts of possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, fentanyl, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years on each count.

U.S. Attorney Avery 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.

Lewis is released on a $75,000 bond pending trial.

This matter is being investigated by the DEA New Haven Tactical Diversion Squad.  The DEA Tactical Diversion Squad is composed of personnel from the DEA and the Manchester, Glastonbury, West Haven, Hamden, Newington, and Bristol Police Departments.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren C. Clark and Stephanie T. Levick.

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division, today announced that, a federal grand jury in New Haven has returned an indictment charging JOSEPH GIOVANNI SOTO, 32, of Bloomfield, with narcotics distribution and firearm possession offenses.

The indictment was returned on June 7, and Soto was arrested yesterday.

As alleged in an indictment and statements made in court, beginning in April 2021, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Narcotics and Bulk Cash Trafficking Task Force began investigating a cocaine trafficking operation headed by Soto.  The investigation revealed that Soto was coordinating the shipment of parcels containing kilogram quantities of cocaine from U.S. Post Offices in Puerto Rico to various “drop addresses” in New Britain and Meriden, Connecticut, as well as addresses in Holyoke and West Springfield, Massachusetts.  Soto and others picked up parcels from the drop addresses and delivered them to stash houses in Bloomfield and New Britain.  It is alleged that investigators intercepted and seized more than five kilograms of cocaine and have identified numerous other suspicious parcels that likely contained kilogram quantities of cocaine.

On May 1, 2023, investigators conducted a court-authorized search of Soto’s residence and seized two firearms, a drum magazine, various ammunition, approximately two kilograms of cocaine, and approximately $12,000 in cash.  Soto was arrested on state charges on that date.

It is alleged that Soto’s criminal history includes a state felony conviction for assault.  It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce.

The indictment charges Soto with one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, an offense that carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life; one count of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, an offense that carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years; and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 15 years.

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

Soto is released on a $100,000 bond pending trial.

This matter is being investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Narcotics and Bulk Cash Trafficking Task Force, which includes members from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Postal Service – Office of the Inspector General, the Connecticut Army National Guard, and the Hartford, New Britain, Meriden, and Town of Groton Police Departments.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie Levick.

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division, announced that IXAVIER HOLMAN, JR., 31, of Secaucus, New Jersey, was arrested today on a federal criminal complaint charging him with mail theft offenses.

As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, on at least six occasions between December 2022 and June 2023, Holman used stolen mail collection box keys to steal mail from blue collection boxes at post offices located at 95 Fountain Street in New Haven and 589 Campbell Avenue in West Haven.  Holman was arrested this morning after he returned to the West Haven post office and accessed the collection box in an attempt to steal mail.

It is alleged that, at the time of his arrest, Holman possessed two mail collection box keys.

The complaint charges Holman with possession of a postal key, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years; theft of mail, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years; and theft of U.S. Postal Service property, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of three years.

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

Holman appeared today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Maria E. Garcia in New Haven and was released on bond.

This investigation is being conducted by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the West Haven and New Haven Police Departments.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel E. Cummings.

Individuals who believe they are a victim of mail theft may file a complaint by calling 877-876-2455 or by visiting https://www.uspis.gov/report.

An investigation into an organization that trafficked numerous firearms into Connecticut has resulted in federal charges against residents of Connecticut, Kansas, and California.

Today’s announcement was made by Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut; Robert Fuller, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Boston Field Division; Michael J. Krol, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), New England; and Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division.

On May 31, 2023, a federal grand jury in Hartford returned a 19-count indictment charging the following men with engaging in a firearms trafficking conspiracy, and additional offenses:

LUIS PEREZ, 44, of Waterbury, Connecticut
ALGELLY DIAZ, 40, of Hartford, Connecticut
BRIAN BAKER, 46, of Scott City, Kansas
RAMON PICHARDO, 33, of Elkhart, Kansas
FERNANDO SOTO, JR., 51, of Diamond Bar, California

U.S. Attorney Avery noted that this case is being prosecuted, in part, under the new criminal provisions of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which Congress enacted and the President signed in June 2022.  The Act is the first federal statute specifically designed to target the unlawful trafficking and straw-purchasing of firearms.

As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, a joint investigation revealed that Perez was acquiring firearms that were purchased by co-conspirators in Kansas and shipped through the U.S. Mail to a stash location that Diaz maintained in Hartford.  Perez coordinated the purchase of the firearms through Baker in Kansas and Soto in California.  Perez then obtained the firearms from Diaz and sold them to others throughout Connecticut.   Perez, Diaz, Baker, and Soto are all convicted felons who cannot not lawfully purchase or possess firearms.  Baker used straw purchasers, including Pichardo, to purchase firearms from licensed gun dealers in Kansas.  In May 2023, members of the FBI Waterbury Safe Streets Task Force conducted controlled purchases of a total of nine firearms from Perez.

It is further alleged that between August 2020 and May 2023, Pichardo purchased at least 73 firearms from a licensed gun dealer in Deerfield, Kansas.  To date, six of these firearms have been recovered by law enforcement in Connecticut, Michigan, and California.  A firearm purchased by Pichardo in July 2022 was recovered on August 27, 2022, in San Bernardino, California, at the scene of the homicide of a juvenile.

Perez, Diaz, Baker, and Pichardo were arrested on federal criminal complaints on May 19, 2023.  On that date, investigators executed search warrants at locations in Connecticut, Kansas, and California.  A search of Perez’s Waterbury residence and vehicle revealed nine firearms; more than 200 rounds of ammunition; distribution quantities of cocaine, crack cocaine, and fentanyl/heroin; items used to process and package narcotics for street sale; and more than $7,000 in cash.  A search of Diaz’s residence revealed approximately 90 rounds of ammunition, and a search of Pichardo’s residence revealed six firearms.  In addition, a court-authorized search of a package that was shipped to Diaz and seized from the mail stream revealed an additional three firearms.

The charge of engaging in a firearms trafficking conspiracy carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 15 years.  The indictment also charges Perez, Baker, and Diaz with multiple counts of firearms trafficking, an offense that also carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 15 years.  In addition, Perez, Baker, and Soto are charged with unlawfully mailing firearms, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of two years.

The indictment also charges Perez with unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 15 years; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, which carries a mandatory consecutive sentence of at least five years; possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, cocaine, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years; and possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and quantities of heroin and fentanyl, which carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years.

In addition, Diaz is charged with unlawful possession of ammunition by a felon, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 15 years.

Perez, Diaz, and Pichardo appeared yesterday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert M. Spector in New Haven and entered pleas of not guilty to the charges against them.  Perez and Diaz are detained, and Pichardo is released on a $25,000 bond.

Soto, who was arrested on June 5 and currently released on a $60,000 bond, and Baker, who is detained, are scheduled to be arraigned in Connecticut on June 16.

U.S. Attorney Avery stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. A charge is only an allegation, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Waterbury Police Department, the Connecticut State Police, and the Chino (Calif.) Police Department.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Natasha M. Freismuth 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.

U.S. Attorney Avery thanked the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Kansas, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan for their assistance in the investigation and prosecution of this case.

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that SERGIO HORTA-MOLINA, 47, of Suffield, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to 94 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for trafficking cocaine, and for violating the conditions of his supervised release from a prior narcotics trafficking conviction.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in October 2021, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Hartford Task Force began investigating a drug trafficking organization, with ties to a Mexican drug cartel, operating in the area of Enfield, Connecticut, and Springfield, Massachusetts.  The organization was believed to be trafficking multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine, as well as heroin.  The investigation, which included court-authorized wiretaps and controlled purchases and seizures of narcotics, revealed that Horta-Molina arranged the shipment of cocaine and other narcotics to Connecticut, and then distributed the drugs to other members of the organization who, in turn, sold the drugs to street-level traffickers and drug customers.

During the investigation, Horta-Molina arranged the shipment of a package from California to Juan Sanchez-Razon’s residence in Enfield.  On April 27, 2022, Sanchez-Razon delivered the package to another individual.  Law enforcement subsequently stopped that individual as he was attempting to deliver the package to Horta-Molina.  A search of the package revealed a kilogram of cocaine.

Horta-Molina was previously convicted in the District of New Jersey of conspiring to distribute cocaine and heroin.  He was charged with the offense after a search of his Suffield residence in September 2017 revealed approximately 23 kilograms of cocaine and one kilogram of heroin.  In November 2019, Horta-Molina was sentenced to 40 months of imprisonment and five years of supervised release for that offense.  Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he was released from prison early in May 2020, and he was on federal supervised release at the time of his criminal conduct in this case.

Horta-Molina has been detained since his arrest on May 5, 2021.  On March 10, 2023, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine.

Judge Dooley sentenced Horta-Molina to 70 months of imprisonment for the cocaine offense, and a consecutive 24 month of imprisonment for violating the conditions of his supervised release.

Sanchez-Razon pleaded guilty to a related charge and awaits sentencing.

This investigation has been conducted by the DEA’s Hartford Task Force and the Enfield 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, New Britain, Rocky Hill, Wethersfield, Windsor Locks and Willimantic Police Departments.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney A. Reed Durham 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, today announced that SHAMARI SMITH, also known as “Dakota,” 34, of Manchester, pleaded guilty yesterday in New Haven federal court to a charge stemming from the kidnapping and murder of a Massachusetts man in 2020.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on December 24, 2020, Calvin Roberson and another individual kidnapped Francisco Roman, Jr., 28, at gunpoint from a residence in Chicopee, Massachusetts.  Roberson and his associate threatened to harm Roman if he did not comply with their orders, handcuffed him, and stole cash, marijuana, and other items from Roman.  Roberson and his associate forced Roman into the rear of Roman’s 2010 Acura ZDX, and transported Roman and the other stolen property to Connecticut.  Roberson’s associate shot and killed Roman while the car was en route to Hartford.  They then drove the car to Shultas Place in Hartford and left it parked on the street.

Roberson and his associate then drove to an apartment that Roberson shared with Smith in Waterbury, and took most of the property stolen during the robbery into the apartment.  Smith subsequently learned that property was stolen during a robbery, and that the victim had been murdered.  Smith then helped sell or dispose of the stolen property.

Roberson was arrested on February 11, 2021.  In an interview with federal law enforcement agents on that date, Smith lied about her role in the sale or disposal of the stolen property.

Smith pleaded guilty to misprision of felony, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of three years.  She is released on a $150,000 bond pending sentencing.

On April 27, 2023, Roberson, also known as “Cutty,” pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit kidnaping, and one count of causing the death of a person through the use of a firearm.  At sentencing, he faces a maximum term of imprisonment of life.  He has been detained since his arrest.

As to Roberson’s associate, who is awaiting trial, U.S. Attorney Avery that charges are not evidence of guilt.  Charges are only allegations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This investigation is being conducted by the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force, FBI’s Springfield Gang Task Force, Massachusetts State Police, Hampden County (Mass.) District Attorney’s Office, Hartford Police Department’s Major Crimes Division, Chicopee Police Department and Springfield Police Department, with the assistance of the Waterbury Police Department and the FBI’s Atlanta Field Office.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian P. Leaming and Angel M. Krull.

U.S. Attorney Avery thanked the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts for their assistance in this matter.

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that, on June 2, 2023, ALEX REYES, also known as “A.J.,” 26, of Waterbury, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford to an effective term of imprisonment of 60 months, followed by three years of supervised release, for illegally possessing a firearm.

Judge Shea sentenced Reyes to 39 months of imprisonment.  Reyes has been detained in state custody since August 2021 and he will not receive credit on his federal sentence for his time served to date.

According to court documents and statements made in court, this matter stems from an ongoing investigation into gangs, drug trafficking and the illegal possession of firearms in Waterbury.  The investigation revealed that Reyes and his associate, Julian Goodman, were distributing fentanyl and heroin.  On August 26, 2021, Waterbury Police attempted to execute search warrants for Reyes’s residence and person.  Reyes, who was sitting in his car as officers approached, fled the scene and struck two police vehicles.  He was located later that day using Goodman’s vehicle.  After Reyes was apprehended, a search of his person revealed a 9mm handgun and $1,433 in cash, and a search of Goodman’s vehicle revealed more than 80 grams of fentanyl, drug packaging materials, multiple cell phones, and $3,492 in cash.  Goodman was apprehended a short distance away.

In 2016, Reyes was convicted in state court of drug and firearm offenses.  It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce.

On December 13, 2022, Reyes pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, and possession of a firearm by a felon.

Reyes has been detained since his arrest.

Goodman has pleaded guilty and awaits sentencing.

This investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Connecticut State Police; the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Police; the Waterbury Police Department; the Wolcott Police Department; and the Connecticut Department of Correction.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Natasha M. Freismuth and John T. Pierpont, Jr.

U.S. Attorney Avery thanked the State’s Attorney’s Office for the Judicial District of Waterbury for its close cooperation in investigating and prosecuting this matter.

The 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 Michael J. Krol, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), New England, today announced that JONATHAN WILLIAMS, 32, of Hartford, was arrested yesterday on a federal criminal complaint charging him with a child exploitation offense.

As alleged in court documents, HSI has been investigating a network of individuals who have been using private groups on an internet chat application to share images and videos of child sexual abuse.  The investigation revealed that an account associated with Williams was an active member of one of these groups, and that Williams was convicted in 2015 in North Carolina of sexual exploitation of a minor in the third degree.

On June 1, 2023, investigators conducted a court authorized search of Williams’ residence.  Williams was arrested after a preliminary review of his laptop revealed videos of child sex abuse.

The complaint charges Williams with receipt of child pornography.  If convicted of the charge, Williams faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 15 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years.  The penalties in this matter are enhanced based on Williams’ prior conviction in North Carolina.

Williams appeared yesterday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert A. Richardson in Hartford and was ordered detained.

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

This matter is being investigated by HSI with the assistance of the Connecticut Center for Digital Investigations, the Connecticut State Police, and the Hartford and Westport Police Departments.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel E. Cummings.

This prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com.

GARRETT SANTILLO, 43, of Hamden, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in Bridgeport to mailing numerous threatening letters to individuals in Connecticut and elsewhere.

According to court documents and statements made in court, between approximately December 2021 and June 2022, Santillo mailed more than 100 letters containing threatening and hateful statements, including threats of violence, to journalists, judges and other public officials and individuals in Connecticut and elsewhere, including a Justice of the United States Supreme Court and a United States Supreme Court Justice Nominee.  Several letters mailed by Santillo contained this or similar language:  “If you don’t obey what this letter says, you along with others including [name redacted] and people in Washington DC and everywhere and you.  You all will be killed!!”

Santillo pleaded guilty to one count of mailing threatening communications to a United States Judge, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.  A sentencing date is not scheduled.  He has been released on a $100,000 bond since his arrest on July 6, 2022.

Santillo has been federally prosecuted, convicted, and sentenced for mailing threatening letters three prior times, and he completed his most recent term of federal supervision in August 2021.

This matter has been investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Marshals Service, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Connecticut State Police, South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) and the Hamden, Milford, Ridgefield, and New Haven Police Departments.  The investigation has also been assisted by the offices of the Connecticut Chief State’s Attorney, the New Haven State’s Attorney and the Litchfield State’s Attorney.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael S. McGarry.

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that MICHAEL DiMASSA, 32, of West Haven, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Omar A. Williams in Hartford to 27 months of imprisonment, followed five years of supervised release, for his involvement in schemes that resulted in the theft of more than $1.2 million dollars in COVID relief funds and other funds from the City of West Haven.  Judge Williams also ordered DiMassa to perform 100 hours of community service while on supervised release.

According to court documents and statements made in court, DiMassa was a Connecticut State Representative who was also employed by the City of West Haven, most recently serving as the Administrative Assistant to the City Council.  In April 2020, the State of Connecticut was allocated money by the U.S. Department of the Treasury through the Coronavirus Relief Fund (“CRF”), which was established by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”) for the purpose of helping local governments pay costs incurred in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.  From July 2020 through September 2021, the City of West Haven received approximately $1,150,257 in financial assistance from this fund.  DiMassa, who was authorized to approve the designated relief funds for the reimbursement of COVID-related expenditures incurred by West Haven, conspired with others to steal these funds and other West Haven funds through the submission of fraudulent invoices, and subsequent payment, for COVID relief goods and services that were never provided.

In one scheme, DiMassa conspired with John Bernardo, who was employed by the City of West Haven as a Housing Specialist in the office of Community Development Administration.  In January 2021, DiMassa and Bernardo formed Compass Investment Group, LLC.  Beginning in February 2021, Compass Investment Group LLC fraudulently billed the City of West Haven and its “COVID-19 Grant Department” for consulting services purportedly provided to the West Haven Health Department that were not performed.  From February 2021 through September 2021, the City of West Haven paid Compass Investment Group a total of $636,783.70.  DiMassa made several large cash withdrawals from the Compass Investment Group LLC bank account, some of which were made shortly before or after he made a large cash “buy-in” of gaming chips at the Mohegan Sun Casino.

DiMassa also conspired with his now wife, Lauren DiMassa, formerly known as Lauren Knox, through the submission of numerous fraudulent invoices to West Haven for services related to a Youth Violence Prevention Program and for Youth Violence COVID-19 Associated Expenses.  These invoices listed charges for in-home counseling, cleaning supplies, special needs hourly service, wi-fi assistance for low/moderate income families, counseling services, license fees, a fall youth clinic, meals, support group supplies, equipment rental, and youth clinic support group.  West Haven made at least 16 payments totaling approximately $147,776.10 to Lauren DiMassa, who never provided any services to the City of West Haven.

In a third scheme, DiMassa conspired with John Trasacco, of West Haven, through the submission of fraudulent invoices from L & H Company and JIL Sanitation Services, two companies controlled by Trasacco, to West Haven for goods and services, including thousands of units of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), HVAC maintenance at multiple municipal locations, COVID supplies for the Board of Education, and cleaning services for various municipal and school buildings, including one school building that had been vacant and abandoned for several years.  Trasacco’s companies received approximately $431,982 through this scheme.

Judge Williams ordered Michael DiMassa to pay $856,844.45 in restitution.

Judge Williams noted the sentence takes into account extensive testimony DiMassa provided during Trasacco’s trial.

DiMassa was arrested on October 20, 2021.  On November 1, 2022, he pleaded guilty to three counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

DiMassa, who is released on a $250,000 bond, is required to report to prison on July 31.

On June 14, 2022, Bernardo pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.  On March 22, 2023, he was sentenced to 13 months of imprisonment and ordered to pay $58,927.25 in restitution.

On July 14, 2022, Lauren DiMassa pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.  On March 23, 2023, she was sentenced to six months of imprisonment and ordered to pay $147,776 in restitution.

On December 2, 2022, a jury found Trasacco guilty of one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of wire fraud.  On April 3, 2023, he was sentenced to 96 months of imprisonment and ordered to pay $143,994 in restitution.

This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development – Office of Inspector General for Investigations.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ray Miller and David Sheldon.

Individuals with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 are encouraged to report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721, or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that KEYANTE PAUL, 34, of Florida, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Janet Bond Arterton in New Haven to 12 months and one day of imprisonment, followed by one year of supervised release, for preparing false tax returns for numerous clients.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Paul, through her business Keys Tax Services, operated as a tax return preparer, and she traveled to the Norwich, Connecticut area for part of the year to prepare returns for Connecticut clients.  For several years, Paul prepared numerous federal tax returns for clients that included false income “adjustments” that reduced taxpayers’ reported adjusted gross income or false expenses and losses in connection with sole proprietorship businesses that clients did not operate.

Paul’s criminal conduct caused losses totaling more than $550,000 to the U.S. Treasury and the Connecticut Department of Revenue Services.

Paul was arrested on June 16, 2022.  On February 23, 2023, she pleaded guilty to aiding and assisting in the preparation of a false income tax return.

Restitution will be determined after additional court proceedings.

This investigation was conducted by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer R. Laraia and Lauren C. Clark.

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that TIHAJA ORTIZ-TUCKER, also known as “TJ,” 19, of New Haven, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Janet Bond Arterton in New Haven to carjacking and conspiracy offenses.

According to court documents and statements made in court, between March and July 2022, Ortiz-Tucker and others posed as interested buyers of motor vehicles advertised by Connecticut residents (the “victim-sellers”) on Facebook Marketplace.  On three occasions, Ortiz-Tucker and his co-conspirators arranged to meet in person with the victim-sellers for the purported purpose of test driving and purchasing the motor vehicles.  At the conclusion of the purported test drives, Ortiz-Tucker and his co-conspirators stole, at gunpoint, the vehicles, as well as certificates of title, bills of sale, and other ownership documents.  On at least two occasions, Ortiz-Tucker posed as the legitimate owner of stolen motor vehicles, advertised them for sale on the OfferUp online platform, and sold them to unwitting purchasers.

Ortiz-Tucker also participated in two carjackings of Uber drivers in May 2022.  In both instances, an Uber driver picked up the carjacker in New Haven and drove to Wallingford where the cars were taken from the Uber drivers at gunpoint.  Both cars were later recovered in the same area of Hamden.

Ortiz-Tucker was arrested on July 22, 2022. 

Ortiz-Tucker pleaded guilty to three counts of taking a motor vehicle from a person by force, violence, and intimidation (“carjacking”), an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 15 years on each count, and one count of conspiracy, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years.

Judge Arterton scheduled sentencing for August 22.

Ortiz-Tucker, who had been released on bond and residing with family members in California, was remanded to custody at the conclusion of the sentencing proceeding.

On May 2, 2023, Ruben Montano, 20, of New Haven, pleaded guilty to one count of carjacking and admitted that he participated in one of these carjackings in July 2022, and the subsequent sale of the vehicle.  Montano, who is detained in state custody on unrelated charges, is scheduled to be sentenced on July 31.

This matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Safe Streets Violent Crime Task Force, the Connecticut State Police and the Wallingford, New Haven, Hamden, Waterbury, and Bridgeport Police Departments.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah P. Karwan and Tara E. Levens.

U.S. Attorney Avery encouraged those who sell and purchase items online, and need to meet an individual in person to complete the sale, to use a visible, monitored location.  Contact your local police department to see if it offers a monitored meeting location, or search online for a nearby monitored location.

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that RAMON OQUENDO, also known as “Mimo,” 46, of Waterbury, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Janet C. Hall in New Haven to 120 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release, for narcotics trafficking and firearm possession offenses.

According to the evidence disclosed during the trial, this matter stems from an investigation led by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Bridgeport High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force of a drug trafficking network led by Landdy Rodriguez of Waterbury.  In August 2021, investigators intercepted phone calls during which Rodriguez arranged for Oquendo to supply fentanyl to other drug distributors, including Sylvester Vann, also known as “Bug,” of Waterbury, and Pedro Diaz of Red Lion, Pennsylvania.  Between August and October 2021, investigators conducted physical surveillance and observed Oquendo engaging in multiple drug transactions with Vann and Diaz.  After one transaction, in August 2021, a Pennsylvania State Trooper stopped Diaz’s car in Pennsylvania and seized 48 grams of fentanyl.

Oquendo was arrested on October 26, 2021.  On that date, a court authorized search of his residence revealed approximately 100 grams of fentanyl, 64 grams of crack cocaine, 102 grams of methamphetamine, a large quantity of marijuana, a polymer 80 privately made firearm (“ghost gun”), ammunition, narcotics processing and packaging materials, and nearly $50,000 in cash.

Oquendo’s criminal history includes convictions for felony drug and firearm offenses.  It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce.

Oquendo has been detained since his arrest.  On March 2, 2023, a jury found him guilty of conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, 40 grams or more of fentanyl; possession with intent to distribute 40 grams of fentanyl; possession with intent to distribute cocaine base (“crack”) and fentanyl; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; and unlawful possession of ammunition by a felon.

Rodriguez, Vann, and Diaz pleaded guilty to related charges and have been sentenced.

This investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Bridgeport High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force, with the assistance of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Connecticut State Police, and the Waterbury Police Department.  The Task Force includes personnel from the DEA Bridgeport Resident Office, the Connecticut State Police, and the Bridgeport, Danbury, Milford, Norwalk, Stamford, and Stratford Police Departments.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kenneth L. Gresham, John T. Pierpont, Jr., and Brendan J. Keefe 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, Robert Fuller, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Joleen D. Simpson, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation in New England, today announced that on May 23, 2023, DEXTER ENWEREM, 36, of Norwich, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty in Bridgeport federal court to fraud and tax offenses stemming from a scheme that defrauded women approached through their social media accounts.

According to court documents and statements made in court, between approximately September 2019 and March 2021, Enwerem participated in a scheme to defraud individuals, primarily women, who were contacted through their Facebook and Instagram accounts.  As part of the scheme, a co-conspirator of Enwerem would use a false identity and make false representations to approach and befriend victims through the social media platforms.  As the relationship progressed, the co-conspirator would sometimes move the communication to Google Hangouts, an online platform that allows users to communicate by video call or direct chat message.  Eventually, the co-conspirator would request money from the victim based on various false representations of need.  The victims would then send money by wire transfers, checks, money orders, and cash.  Some of the money was wired into bank accounts that Enwerem controlled, and some was sent in packages to an address where Enwerem could receive them.

Through this scheme, Enwerem and his co-conspirators defrauded victims of approximately $450,000.  Enwerem wired approximately $220,000 of these funds to bank accounts in Nigeria.  In response to bank officials who questioned the nature of these wire transfers, Enwerem falsely stated that the recipients were family members and that the funds were intended to take care of his grandmother, and for household expenses.

Enwerem also failed to pay taxes on the income he fraudulently obtained.

Enwerem pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, and one count of tax evasion, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years.  As part of his plea, he has agreed to pay restitution of $449,189 to his victims, and $127,299 in back taxes for the 2019 and 2020 tax years.   

Enwerem was arrested on related state charges on March 24, 2021.  He is released on a $200,000 bond pending sentencing, which is not scheduled.

This investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Connecticut Cyber Task Force (CCTF), the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, and the Norwich Police Department, with the assistance of the Hartford Police Department.

The FBI’s CCTF is staffed with detectives from the Connecticut State Police’s Cyber Crimes Investigation Unit and the Bristol, Hartford, Stamford, and UConn Police Departments, as well as an agent from the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division.  To contact the CCTF or report a cyber incident, please call the FBI’s New Haven Field Office at 203-777-6311 or file a complaint with the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center at https://www.ic3.gov.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael S. McGarry. 

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ERIC WOODIE, 32, of New Britain, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer in New Haven to 66 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for trafficking and possessing firearms, and for distributing cocaine.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on January 18, 2021, Woodie and Dominic Colon-Brown sold a .22 caliber firearm to an individual for $1,200.  Woodie, Brown and Julian Judge then conspired to obtain stolen firearms in Florida and sell them in Connecticut.  In late February 2021, Woodie rented a car, which Colon-Brown and Judge used to drive to Florida to obtain stolen firearms and bring them back to Connecticut.  Woodie also provided Colon-Brown and Judge with cash to purchase firearms.  Colon-Brown and Judge purchased three stolen handguns in Florida, transported them back to Connecticut, and provided them to Woodie.

Woodie was arrested on March 8, 2021, after he ran from New Britain Police officers and discarded a .40 caliber handgun, equipped with a laser and loaded high capacity magazine, during the chase.  The firearm was recovered and a search of Woodie’s person revealed five knotted plastic baggies containing cocaine, as well as $1,038 in cash.   A subsequent search of Woodie’s residence revealed the three stolen handguns they acquired in Florida, two extended magazines, more than 100 rounds of ammunition, and an additional distribution quantity of cocaine. 

During the investigation, Woodie 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.

Woodie has been detained since his arrest.  On March 2, 2023, he pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

Colon-Brown, of Farmington, and Judge, of New Britain, each pleaded guilty to one count of transporting stolen firearms across state lines.  On May 27, 2022, Judge was sentenced to 24 months of imprisonment and ordered to pay a $3,000 fine.  On August 22, 2022, Colon-Brown was sentenced to 12 months of imprisonment and ordered to pay a $2,200 fine.

This investigation was conducted by the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force, the New Britain Police Department, the Farmington Police Department, the West Hartford Police Department, and the Pasco County (Fla.) Sheriff’s Office.  The case was 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, Michael J. Krol, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), New England, and Stamford Police Chief Timothy Shaw today announced that SERVIO BARROS-TERREROS, 56, of Stamford has been charged by federal criminal complaint with child exploitation offenses.

As alleged in court documents, in December 2022, a minor female victim reported that, when she was nine and 10 years old, Barros-Terreros had sexually assaulted her multiple times.  The victim reported that Barros-Terreros took sexually explicit pictures of her, and threatened to publish the pictures and show them to the victim’s mother if the victim told anyone.  Barros-Terreros also instructed the victim to undress during video calls he initiated with the victim, during which he also engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

On January 12, 2023, Stamford Police arrested Barros-Terreros on state sexual assault and risk of injury offenses, and seized Barros-Terreros’ iPhone.  It is alleged that analysis of the iPhone revealed sexually explicit images of the minor victim, and images of Barros-Terreros engaging in sexually explicit conduct with the minor victim.

Barros-Terreros has been detained since his arrest.  He made his initial appearance yesterday in Bridgeport federal court.

The complaint charges Barros-Terreros with sexual exploitation of children, an offense that carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 15 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 30 years, and with possession of child pornography, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.

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

This matter is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Stamford Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel E. Cummings with the assistance of the Office of the State’s Attorney for the Judicial District of Stamford-Norwalk.

This prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com.

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JEISSON AMARANTE-PEREZ, 30, of the Dominican Republic, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant in Hartford to 45 months of imprisonment for trafficking fentanyl and heroin.

According to court documents and statements made in court, this matter stems from a joint investigation headed by the DEA New Haven Task Force and the Waterbury Police Department into a Waterbury-based drug trafficking operation headed by Nestor Sosa-Ortiz.  The investigation, which included the use of court-authorized wiretaps, physical surveillance, and controlled purchases of narcotics, revealed that Sosa-Ortiz’s organization received large quantities of fentanyl and heroin from suppliers in Connecticut and New York and distributed the narcotics through a network of co-conspirators, including Sanchez-Martinez.  After Sosa-Ortiz was arrested in New York City on a separate federal heroin and fentanyl trafficking charge in May 2019, he continued to control his drug network while incarcerated by using smuggled cell phones to communicate with various co-conspirators.

The Sosa-Ortiz organization used an apartment located at 330 Bishop Street in Waterbury to store kilogram-quantities of fentanyl and heroin, and to process and package the drugs for street sale.  On October 29, 2019, investigators arrested several members of the organization, executed search warrants at the Bishop Street apartment and four other locations, and seized approximately six kilograms of fentanyl and heroin, approximately 100,000 bags of fentanyl/heroin packaged for street distribution, approximately 1,000 fentanyl pills disguised as Percocet pills, one firearm, approximately $50,000 in cash, drug ledgers, and other items.

As the investigation continued, it revealed that Jeisson Amarante-Perez and his brother, Jeffrey Amarante-Perez, served as an alternate source of drug supply to the Sosa-Ortiz organization, and that Edwin Rivas-Cruz was a drug courier for the Amarante-Perez brothers.  Jeisson Amarante-Perez and Rivas-Cruz were intercepted over a wiretap coordinating narcotics transactions, and drug ledgers seized from the Sosa-Ortiz organization in October 2019 indicated drug debts to Jeffrey Amarante-Perez of more than $30,000.

Jeisson Amarante-Perez has been detained since his arrest on April 11, 2022.  On December 1, 2022, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl.

Jeffrey Amarante-Perez, Rivas-Cruz, and Sosa-Ortiz also pleaded guilty.  Jeffrey Amarante-Perez was sentenced to 30 months of imprisonment, and Rivas-Cruz and Sosa-Ortiz await sentencing.

This investigation has been conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration New Haven Task Force and the Waterbury Police Department.  The DEA New Haven Task Force includes participants from the DEA, U.S. Marshals Service, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, Connecticut State Police and the New Haven, Waterbury, East Haven, Branford, West Haven, Ansonia, Meriden, Naugatuck, and Shelton Police Departments.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren C. Clark and Jocelyn Courtney Kaoutzanis 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, Phillip Coyne, Special Agent in Charge for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General, and William Tong, Connecticut Attorney General, today announced that COREBELLA HEALTH, LLC, and its owner, MARCOS DeESCOBAR, have entered into a civil settlement agreement with the federal and state governments and have paid a total of $399,440.55 to resolve allegations that they submitted false claims to, and received overpayments from, the Medicare and Medicaid programs.

Corebella Health (“Corebella”) is a practice that provides medical and wellness services to patients in Waterbury.  DeEscobar is a naturopath and the owner of Corebella.  The allegations against Corebella and DeEscobar arise out of improper billing for allergy immunotherapy preparation, and office visits, also known as evaluation and management (“E&M”) services. 

Services performed by a nurse practitioner are typically reimbursed by Medicare and Medicaid at a lower rate than those performed by a physician.  There are circumstances where nurse practitioner services are considered “incident-to” physician services, and may be properly billed and reimbursed at the higher physician rate.  Among other requirements, incident-to services require a certain level of physician supervision.  The government alleges that Corebella and DeEscobar submitted, or caused to be submitted, false claims to Medicare and Medicaid for services that were supposedly rendered by physicians.  In reality, the services were rendered by nurse practitioners, did not meet incident-to supervision requirements, and should not have been reimbursed at the higher physician rate.

When billing for the preparation and provision of allergy immunotherapy, providers must specify the number of units prepared for the patient.  The government alleges that Corebella and DeEscobar received overpayments from Medicare and Medicaid for allergy immunotherapy preparation services by submitting claims for more units than were actually prepared.

Medicare and Medicaid generally consider E&M services that occur on the same day as a procedure to be part of the work of the procedure, and do not allow a separate payment for the office visit.  However, when a significant, separately identifiable service is performed by the same physician on the same date of the procedure, the provider can use “Modifier 25” to bill for both the procedure and the E&M services.  The government alleges that Corebella and DeEscobar caused improper claims to be billed to Medicare and Medicaid by adding Modifier 25 to E&M claims when providing allergy injections when, in fact, no significant, separately identifiable E&M services were provided.

To resolve their liability, Corebella and DeEscobar paid $399,440.55 to the federal and state governments for conduct occurring between January 1, 2016, through December 31, 2018.

This matter was investigated by the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Connecticut Office of the Attorney General.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sara Kaczmarek and by Assistant Attorney General Joshua Jackson of the Attorney General’s Office.

People who suspect health care fraud are encouraged to report it by calling 1-800-HHS-TIPS or the Health Care Task Force at (203) 777-6311.

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that LEONARDO HECTOR ROSADO, 52, of the Bronx, New York, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Alvin W. Thompson in Hartford to 170 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for trafficking fentanyl and cocaine.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in April 2021, members of the FBI’s Bridgeport Safe Streets Task Force and Bridgeport Police Department coordinated the acquisition of a kilogram of heroin from Rosado.  On April 13, 2021, Rosado drove from the Bronx to a meeting location in Bridgeport where he provided a cooperating witness with nearly a kilogram of a substance containing fentanyl, heroin and cocaine, and another small bag containing more than four grams of fentanyl.  Investigators arranged another narcotics transaction and, on May 16, 2021, arrested Rosado after he drove to a location in Bridgeport with nearly three kilograms of a substance containing fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine, and an additional 983 grams of cocaine.

Rosado had also delivered a kilogram of fentanyl to the cooperating witness in 2019.

Rosado has been detained since his arrest.  On February 23, 2023, a jury found him guilty of two counts of possession with intent to distribute and distribution of 400 grams or more of fentanyl, and one count of possession with intent to distribute and distribution of 500 grams or more of cocaine. 

Rosado has a prior narcotics trafficking conviction. In 2010, he was sentenced in the Middle District of North Carolina to 121 months of imprisonment for possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine.  His sentence was later reduced to 97 months of imprisonment.

This matter was investigated by the FBI’s Bridgeport Safe Streets Task Force and the Bridgeport Police Department.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tara E. Levens and Daniel E. Cummings 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 JONATHAN BROWN, 46, of Bridgeport, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant in Hartford to 125 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for his role in a large-scale heroin trafficking ring.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Brown was a close associate of Ivan Rosario, also known as “Ghost,” who headed a Bridgeport-based heroin trafficking organization that, between approximately April 2015 and March 2017, received at least 30 kilograms of heroin that had been transported from Mexico to Bridgeport hidden inside motorcycles equipped with secret compartments.  The organization then distributed the drug in the Bridgeport area.  Brown, with the help of his girlfriend, a Bridgeport real estate agent, assisted Rosario in securing “stash houses” that were used by the organization to store and process narcotics.  At times, he also helped package and distribute narcotics.

In October 2015, law enforcement stopped a car Wilfredo Rosado-Rodriguez was driving and seized approximately $120,000 in suspected drug proceeds that he was couriering to New York.  On February 14, 2017, Jose David Silva Pestano, a Mexican national, was arrested in Nogales, Arizona, after he crossed the border on a motorcycle carrying nearly 12 kilograms of heroin in a concealed compartment.

Brown was arrested on March 3, 2017.  On March 16, 2017, a grand jury in Hartford returned an indictment charging Brown, Rosario, Rosado-Rodriguez, Silva Pestano, and three other individuals with heroin trafficking and related offenses.

Following his arrest, Brown was released on a $250,000 bond.  He was scheduled to plead guilty on March 5, 2018, but failed to appear for his court proceeding.  Brown was located and arrested in Mexico in September 2019, and has been detained since that time.

On December 22, 2022, Brown pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin.

Brown’s criminal history includes a federal conviction in November 2012 for possession of ammunition by a felon.  He was sentenced to 34 months of imprisonment for that offense.

Rosario, Rosado-Rodriguez, and Silva Pestano were convicted of related charges.  On July 18, 2019, Rosario was sentenced to 210 months of imprisonment, on April 19, 2023, Rosado-Rodriguez was sentenced to 60 months of imprisonment, and on June 27, 2018, Silva Pestano was sentenced to 87 months of imprisonment.

This matter was investigated by the FBI’s Bridgeport Safe Streets Task Force, DEA’s Bridgeport High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force, Bridgeport Police Department and Stratford Police Department.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert S. Ruff and Natasha M. Freismuth 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 JACKIE BROWN, 43, of New Haven, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to 92 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for unlawfully possessing ammunition.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on October 7, 2021, Brown was involved in a car accident in New Haven.  After a responding officer observed Brown attempting to hide an extended firearm magazine by sitting on top of it, Brown ran from the car, up the street, and through the backyard of a residence.  Another officer apprehended Brown minutes later.  A search of Brown’s path of travel revealed a .40 caliber handgun, a loaded gun magazine, and two loose rounds of ammunition.

In an interview with officers, Brown admitted that he had discarded a firearm with a loaded magazine during the chase.  Analysis of the extended magazine that was found in the car revealed that it contained 25 rounds of ammunition.

Brown has an extensive criminal history that includes seven drug-related felony convictions, and a conviction for attempted assault in the first degree.  It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce.

Brown has been detained since his arrest.  On August 12, 2022, he pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a felon.

This investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the New Haven Police Department.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney A. Reed Durham through the Justice’s Department’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) program.

PSN, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts, 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.

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ALEX JOSEPHS, 23, of Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to 120 months of imprisonment for his involvement in a spree of violent robberies of AT&T stores in Connecticut and western Massachusetts.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in 2021, Josephs, Shaquille Raymond, Ronaldo Smith, and Deshawn Baugh committed several violent armed robberies of AT&T stores in Connecticut and western Massachusetts.  The perpetrators typically entered the stores shortly before closing, pointed weapons at employees, and, at times, pistol-whipped, dragged and shoved employees toward the back inventory room.  They then held the employees at gunpoint while loading large bags with cell phones and other electronics.  The group stole hundreds of thousands of dollars in merchandise.  Saviana Bourne, who worked at AT&T stores, helped plan the robberies, served as a getaway driver, and coordinated the sale of the stolen merchandise.

The investigation revealed that Josephs, Raymond, and Smith robbed AT&T stores in Newington on January 29, 2021, and Enfield on February 24, 2021.  Baugh then joined the conspiracy and together they robbed an AT&T store in Canton on April 15, 2021, and attempted to rob stores in Torrington and Glastonbury in May 2021, but were locked out of the stores.

On June 6, 2021, Josephs and his associates, armed with a semiautomatic pistol, two revolvers, and a semiautomatic rifle, robbed an AT&T store in West Springfield, Massachusetts.  After the robbery, they fled in a vehicle driven by Bourne, who led police on a high-speed chase that ended when their vehicle collided with a Massachusetts State Police cruiser.  Josephs, Raymond, Smith, Baugh, and Bourne were arrested, and a search of the vehicle revealed more than $150,000 in stolen merchandise, as well as the firearms used during the robbery.

Judge Underhill ordered Josephs to pay restitution of $298,073.86, which reflects the losses from the Newington, Enfield, and Canton robberies. The property stolen in the West Springfield robbery was recovered.

Josephs has been detained since his arrest.  On November 30, 2022, he pleaded guilty to one count of Hobbs Act robbery and one count of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.

Raymond, Smith, Baugh, and Bourne also pleaded guilty.  On March 1, 2023, Baugh was sentenced to 108 months of imprisonment and was ordered to pay restitution of $124,842.45, which reflects the loss from the Canton robbery.  On March 29, 2023, Raymond was sentenced to 72 months of imprisonment and Bourne was sentenced to 78 months of imprisonment.  Raymond and Bourne were also ordered to pay restitution of $298,073.86.  Smith awaits sentencing.

Josephs and Raymond, who are citizens of Jamaica, face immigration proceedings when they are released from prison.         

This matter has been investigated by the FBI’s Connecticut Violent Crimes Task Force with the assistance of the Massachusetts State Police and the Newington, Enfield, Canton, Torrington, Glastonbury, and West Springfield Police Departments.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert S. Ruff.

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that MATTHEW X. SMITH, 29, of Stonington, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jeffery A. Meyer in New Haven to 60 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for a child exploitation offense.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on August 12, 2021, Smith, using the Kik social media application, initiated contact with an FBI Online Covert Employee (“OCE”) who was posing as a 14-year-old girl.  Smith sent sexually explicit messages to the OCE, requested the OCE send him sexually explicit pictures, and discussed meeting the OCE to engage in sexual conduct.  As the Kik communication continued in the following days, investigators also determined that Smith, using a different Kik user account, had engaged in sexually explicit exchanges with the OCE in 2020.  Smith and the OCE agreed to meet on August 18, 2021.

On August 18, 2021, Smith was arrested by New London Police on state charges after he arrived at the agreed upon meeting location.  He was charged by federal criminal complaint in February 2022.  On January 10, 2023, he pleaded guilty to soliciting child pornography.

Smith, who is released on a $100,000 bond, is required to report to prison on June 26.

This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with the assistance of the New London Police Department.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patricia Stolfi Collins.

This prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com.

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that LANDDY RODRIGUEZ, also known as “Oso,” 37, of Waterbury, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Janet C. Hall in New Haven to 120 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release, for trafficking cocaine and fentanyl.

According to court documents and statements made in court, an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Bridgeport High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force and the Connecticut State Police determined that a drug trafficking organization headed by Rodriguez was obtaining kilogram-quantities of cocaine through the U.S. Mail from Puerto Rico.  In the summer of 2021, investigators also intercepted phone calls during which Reinaldo Colon Oliveras, while incarcerated in a federal prison in Atlanta and using a smuggled cell phone, arranged the shipment of cocaine to Rodriguez and his associate, Thomas Marra.  Rodriguez and Marra further distributed the drug to a network of associates.

During the investigation, Rodriguez also directed his cousin, Jaime Rodriguez, to deliver to him five kilograms of cocaine from Florida.  Landdy Rodriguez was also supplied with cocaine from Salvador Crespo, who ran an underground bar in Bridgeport.

The investigation further revealed that Landdy Rodriguez facilitated multiple transactions of fentanyl.

Landdy Rodriguez has been detained since his arrest on October 18, 2021.  On December 21, 2022, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute cocaine.

Colon, Marra, Jaime Rodriguez and Crespo pleaded guilty to related charges.  On March 7, 2023, Colon, of Kissimmee, Florida, was sentenced to 78 months of imprisonment.  On May 18, 2023, Marra, of Ansonia, was sentenced to 60 months of imprisonment.  On December 22, 2022, Jaime Rodriguez, of Red Lion, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 60 months of imprisonment.  Crespo awaits sentencing.

This investigation has been conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Bridgeport High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force, and the Connecticut State Police, with the assistance of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Waterbury Police Department.  The Task Force includes personnel from the DEA Bridgeport Resident Office, the Connecticut State Police, and the Bridgeport, Danbury, Milford, Norwalk, Stamford, and Stratford Police Departments.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kenneth L. Gresham, John T. Pierpont, Jr., and Brendan J. Keefe 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.