13 members of violent group in Hartford charged after months-long investigation: police

Thirteen suspected members of a group believed to be associated with numerous violent crimes have been arrested and charged after a months-long investigation in Hartford.

Several agencies including the Hartford Police Major Crimes Division, Vice, Intelligence and Narcotics Division, Capital City Command Center, the Hartford States Attorney's Office and federal law enforcement began their investigation in May 2023.

Police said the investigation was in connection to numerous violent and narcotic-related incidents that involved a group who identified themselves as the "Get Money Steppas."

According to investigators, the incidents involving the "Get Money Steppas" include multiple homicides, shootings, acts of retaliatory violence, drug dealings, vehicle thefts and arson.

Investigators said they worked to learn information about the group's membership, their hierarchy, methods of identification and ongoing criminal activities.

After an 11-month-long investigation, 13 arrest warrants were approved. Those warrants are charging suspected members of the group with violating the Corrupt Organization and Racketeering Activity (CORA) Act.

Authorities said when the arrest warrants were approved, eight of the 13 suspected members of the group were and still are in state or federal custody. The other five suspected members of the group were found and have been taken into custody.

Police have identified the thirteen suspected members as:

• A 16-year-old male
  • Take into custody order
• Jeremy White, 20
  • $750,000 bond
• Guilberto Mendez, 28
  • $750,000 bond
• Leonardo Laboy, 24
  • $750,000 bond
• Paul Downer, 28
  • $750,000 bond
• Juan Perez, 28
  • $750,000 bond
• Nathan Delgado, 21
  • $200,000 bond
• Xavier Gomez, 23
  • $200,000 bond
• Linoshka Barbosa, 24
  • $200,000 bond
• Pedro Fuentes, 30
  • $500,000 bond
• Kennethzel Rivera, 20
  • $500,000 bond
• Jose Perdomo, 24
  • $500,000 bond
• Isiah Barnett, 26
  • $200,000 bond

All thirteen people are being charged with Corrupt Organization and Racketeering Activity.

“This investigation, as the chief stated, was targeted at group activity occurring in the South End of the city,” appointed State’s Attorney Hartford Judicial District Sharmese Walcott said.

Investigators said while most of the group’s activity takes place in Hartford’s South End, their reach extends beyond Connecticut.

“These are some uniquely violent individuals that were responsible for creating dangerous conditions in the city,” Hartford Police Chief Jason Thody said.

Thody said the group used altered weapons, as well as ghost guns, in many instances.

“We are hopeful that as a result of this operation that multiple homicides and shootings previously unsolved will come to closure. As a result of this investigation, we anticipate additional arrests and additional charges. This is only the beginning,” Hartford Police Lt. Aaron Boisvert said.