FBI Arrests 29 People in Gang-Related Drug, Gun Trafficking Operation

The Federal Bureau of Investigation is charging 29 people in connection to gang-related heroin, crack cocaine and firearm trafficking in the South End of Hartford, according to the FBI, Hartford police and the United States attorney for Connecticut.

Authorities are still looking for two of them.

Back in September, the FBI's Northern Connecticut Violent Crimes Task Force began investigating narcotics distribution, firearms trafficking and violence in Hartford's South End involving Los Solidos gang members and their associates, according to the U.S. attorney's office. Hartford police worked with federal agents in the case.

“This operation, which embedded Hartford Police Department patrol officers and detectives with our federal partners for several months, is an example of our strong relationships and continued cooperation with all of our local, state and federal partners,” Hartford Police Chief James Rovella said. “We continue to support these efforts and relationships to cooperatively enhance a safer city.”

The task force utilized wiretapping in the investigation and made controlled purchases of heroin, crack cocaine and firearms. They also did 15 searches. Authorities seized 24 guns, $74,000, 2 kilograms of crack cocaine, 2 kilograms of powdered cocaine, 1 kilogram of heroin, 7,000 bags of packaged heroin, 10 pounds of marijuana and four vehicles.

“The distribution of narcotics allegedly undertaken by members and associates of the Los Solidos street gang has been seriously disrupted as a result of this successful long-term investigation by the Northern Connecticut Violent Crimes Task Force,” FBI Special Agent in Charge Patricia M. Ferrick said. “It is our hope that our continuing investigations will break the stronghold certain gangs believe they have over Hartford neighborhoods.”

A Hartford grand jury produced eight indictments that charged 28 people, including 24 arrested Monday, two defendants who are already in prison and two who are still at large. Another person was also charged in a criminal complaint.

Melvin “Humacoa” Castro, 22, of Hartford, Luis "Cano" Castro, 43, of Hartford, Francisco "Chino" Sanchez-Reyes, 37, of Hartford, Hernan Gonzalez, 26, of Hartford and Manuel "Mayo" Lozado, 25, of Hartford, are charged with conspiracy to distribute and possession of heroin with the intention to distribute it. Melvin Castro was charged with 12 counts of those charges, as well as three counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The FBI task force charged William Marrero, 22, of East Hartford with one count of possession by a firearm.

Felix "P.R." Jimenez, 30, of Hartford and Rogelio Ortega, 45, of Manchester, were charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute crack cocaine. The FBI also charged Jimenez with possession with intent to distribute and distribution of heroin, using the telephone in the commission of a drug trafficking felony and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes. Sandro "Domi" Ruiz, 41, of Hartford, and Joanna Negron, 36, of Hartford were charged with using a telephone in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.


Vincente "Macho Rivera faces 11 counts of possession with intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine base, one count of possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon. William "Jay" Perez, 30, of East Hartford was also charged with possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon. Edward Blair, 33, of Hartford, Morris Lanier, 23, of Hartford and Nahkia Roberts, 30, of Willimantic, were charged with use of a telephone in the commission of a drug trafficking felony. Vicente Rivera, Basilia Gomez, 30, of Hartford, Jorge "Joe" Gomez, 29, of Hartford and Pedro "Tony" Roman, 38, of Hartford, were charged with conspiracy to distribute and to possess cocaine base with the intent to sell.

Eduardo "Za" Zayas, 31, of East Hartford and Michael Kelley, 34, of New Britain, were charged with conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute cocaine base. Zayas also faces a charge of possession with intent to distribute cocaine base, possession with intent to distribute heroin, possession of a firearm  in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes and possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon. Kelley was additionally charged with two counts of possession with intent to distribute cocaine base, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, possession with intent to distribute marijuana and maintaining a drug-involved premises.

Shawn Karjohn, 37, of Hartford,Richard Jewell, 40, of Hartford and Christopher Rosa, 32, of Hartford, were charged with use of a telephone in the commission of a drug trafficking felony. Karjohn was additionally charged with possession with intent to distribute cocaine base.

Edguardo "Eggy" Torres, 26, of East Hartford, was charged with 14 counts of possession with intent to distribute and distribution of heroin and crack cocaine. The FBI charged Jose Serrano, 30, of Hartford, with possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon.

Eric "Nice" Ortiz, 34, of Hartford, was charged with four counts of possession with intent to distribute heroin.

Miguel "Smooth" Diaz, 35, of Wethersfield, was charged with two counts of possession with intent to distribute heroin, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon.

Finally, Carolos Rivera, 24, of Hartford, was arrested after a criminal complaint on charges of possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon and possession with intent to distribute heroin and crack cocaine.

The FBI are investigating the case with the assistance of Hartford police, East Hartford police, state police and the Connecticut Department of Correction. The U.S. Marshals Service and Capitol Region Emergency Response Team helped with the arrests.
 

The crackdown stems from Project Longevity. The initiative aims to reduce gun violence in Connecticut's big cities. Law enforcement officials and members of the community work with people in groups prone to violence. They do calls and in-person meetings with participants to deter violence and send a message about its consequences. Some Los Solidos members attended the "call-ins" between April and August in 2014.

“The U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners will use the full weight of federal law to make our cities safer by identifying violent gangs and prosecuting members and associates involved in drug trafficking and related activity,” U.S. Attorney Deirdre Daly said in a statement.

Law enforcement agents removed two dozen firearms from the streets in the investigation.

“I commend the work of the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Violent Crimes Task Force, which is committed to investigating serious criminal behavior in Hartford and rooting out violent individuals from our communities," Daly said. "Project Longevity exists to give every member of a group participating in criminal behavior a new path to become a contributing member of society. This prosecution should send a clear message to those who choose to resist a lifestyle change that the path they’re currently taking may very well lead to a federal courtroom.”

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