The other defendants, if convicted of this charge, face a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. NEW HAVEN, CT Authorities announced the arrest of 25 people Wednesday on federal drug charges in connection to gang-related activity in and around New Haven. A multi-agency investigation targeting the Sinaloa Drug Cartel. Never mind the negative things it brings to the area, Janeen Powers said. Lock Market data provided by Factset. Man wanted in Auburndale shooting turns himself in. Arizona is a major distribution site of the deadly opioid, with the state accounting for more than half of all fentanyl pills seized by DEA agents nationwide in 2022, FOX 10 reports. Inside the package was 42 half pound bags of meth. This case is the response to some of those demands for action by residents. When police busted what they call a psychedelic drug factory at 548 Woodward Ave. in New Haven Thursday, they stumbled across one of the largest drug seizures in the state -- $3 million. The indictment also charges Backman, Atkinson, Jackson, Jacobs, Stanley, Roberts and Draughn with one count of conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, heroin. Central Connecticut State University honors life, March Madness highlights problem gambling, Skier Shiffrins quest for 86th win extended after, Olympic ticket sales for Paris Games gets off to, 7 Cubs pitchers combine for no-hitter vs Machado,, Mikal Bridges helps Nets rally to stun Celtics, 115-105, NASCAR star Elliott has leg surgery after snowboard, The Remedys Cultured Caf: New Havens Spot to Eat, Free Covid-19 vaccine clinic available at Community, ACES Open Choice Program Now Accepting Student, Fuchs Financial: The How to Retire Blueprint. Atkinson and Draughn were arrested June 16 in connection with the seizure of approximately 10,000 bags of heroin, the release said. Thirteen kilograms of cocaine, nearly two kilograms of heroin, about a half kilogram of crack cocaine, as well as a significant amount well over a pound of methamphetamine, he said. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. JAYQUAN MARTINEZ, also known as Neighbor and Quan, 20, of New Haven Nine people have been arrested and charged in connection with a drug trafficking investigation by the Polk County Sheriff's Office. He praised the collaborative effort Wednesday. All of our efforts are aimed at improving the quality of life of all law-abiding residents of Connecticut.. On February 15, a grand jury in New Haven returned an indictment charging the eight defendants with conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute various quantities of fentanyl, heroin, cocaine base ("crack") and cocaine. Mac and Bridgeport, 43, of West Haven, TYRESE STANLEY, a.k.a. A rain garden is an area dug slightly below the surrounding area that can catch and collect rainfall and keep it from carrying pollutants downstream. NEW HAVEN, CT A West Haven resident was among the 25 people arrested Wednesday on federal drug charges in connection to gang-related activity in and around New Haven, according to authorities. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! He will be arraigned at Superior Court GA #23 New Haven today 12/9/10. U.S. Attorney Boyle stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Money Wisdom: Should I Retire in Connecticut? EAST HAVEN, CT Under investigation by numerous federal agencies since last year, a bust in East Haven Monday saw two from New Haven arrested and charged with trafficking cocaine and fentanyl . Others vomited. Narcotics Detectives secured two search warrants one in New Haven and one in Guilford. WaWa, 40, of Hamden, SHAVAR BELLAMY, a.k.a. As alleged, these drug trafficking networks have been responsible for the distribution of significant quantities of heroin, crack and cocaine in Connecticut and Massachusetts, Durham said in a statement. E, 40, of New Haven, PRISHONNA TURNER, a.k.a. Raul Torres-Santiago, 51, of New Haven was charged with criminal possession of a firearm, two counts of illegal possession of a high-capacity magazine, being an armed private security person. Waterbury Police say they were raiding the home as part of a bigger drug trafficking investigation. On February 15, a grand jury in New Haven returned an indictment charging the eight defendants with conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute various quantities of fentanyl, heroin, cocaine base (crack) and cocaine. The U.S. Attorneys Office will continue to work with our federal, state and local partners to stem the drug trade in our cities, and the violence associated with it, by prosecuting those involved in this criminal behavior.. How does the chief measure significant? In addition, Merritt is charged with one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, which carries a mandatory consecutive sentence of at least five years, and one count of possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years. On 12/08/10 the shipment of marijuana in several boxes wrapped as Christmas packages were delivered to the accused by the informant. This is the 1,700 pounds of marijuana local police and federal agents seized after a drug bust in West Haven Wednesday. Middletown, Connecticut 06457. March 14th 2023 "Live" Virtual CT Real Estate Licensing Classes! The indictment also charges several defendants with one or more counts related to the distribution of various narcotics. Its pretty unusual that this type of operation would be done in a neighborhood such as this, said Lt. Vance. The investigation subsequently identified a second drug trafficking network that involved the large-scale distribution of heroin. Officials said the pills represented 30 million potentially lethal doses. Both drugs, especially fentanyl, have been linked to rising overdoses across the country. NEW HAVEN -- The police narcotics squad arrested five people in two investigations Tuesday and seized cash, cocaine and over 1,000 packets of heroin. Officials said Merritts criminal history includes multiple felony convictions for assault, risk of injury and robbery. Thats what has neighbors so shocked. Officers began investigating a large scale international. "Today's emergency is deeply troubling and illustrative of the very real and serious threat that illicit street drugs pose to health of individuals," the Democratic governor said in a statement. Alejandrino " Baby Boo " DeJesus, 38, of the Fair Haven section of the city, admitted to his role in a drug dealing conspiracy in New Haven in August when he pleaded guilty to one count of. It could be because it is not supported, or that JavaScript is intentionally disabled. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. The indictment charges Julius, Merritt, Carr, Backman, Atkinson, Williams, Brazier, Burruss, Brandy, Turner, Crosley, Roman, Smith, Carter, Senior, Bellamy, Moore and Armstrong with one count of conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, cocaine base (crack), cocaine and heroin. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Helping the homeless: Polk County Public Schools help nearly 4,000 homeless students each year. According to officials, units responded to a residence on Winnett Street and arrested 20-year-old Phillip Moye on the. City officials said police officers, firefighters and emergency medical personnel will staff a command post on the Green for the time being, and social workers and private health outreach workers will be on hand. Psycho and Mel, 62, of New Haven, Todays takedown is yet another example of our great working relationship with the New Haven Police Department and all of our law enforcement partners across the state, Turner said. Also, Frank Carr, aka FL, 52; Anderson Atkinson, aka Barry, 58; Jeffrey Brazier, 49; Mervin Brandy, 52; Wanda Carter, aka WaWa, 40; Dena Draughn, 55, all of Hamden; Makene Jacobs, aka Mac and Bridgeport, 43, of West Haven; Jamaine Jackson, aka Jack, 45, of Bridgeport; Prishonna Turner, aka Nonnie, 23, of Hartford; and Shaun Armstrong, 39, and Matthew Moore, aka Matt, 44, both of Fitchburg, Mass. Police respond to the scene of multiple overdoses at a Connecticut-area park on Wed., Aug. 15, 2018. Today we reinforce our commitment and we move a step closer to making the city (safe) from gun violence, said Reyes. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. The investigation revealed that individuals were utilizing a storage facility in West Haven as a hub to distribute large quantities of marijuana throughout the tri-state area, West Haven police said in a statement, referring to the area that includes Connecticut, New York and New Jersey. The arrests Wednesday were a result of an investigation headed by the FBIs New Haven Safe Streets/Gang Task Force and New Haven Police Department, targeting drug trafficking and related acts of violence by members, former members and associates of the Island Brothers street gang, federal authorities said. Updated on: August 16, 2018 / 1:52 PM Reyes said the series of arrests will help quell violence in the city. In addition narcotics detectives seized bank records and other financial documents at both addresses. After Connecticut State Police took Ramos into custody both search & seizure warrants were executed, one at this address, where a large amount of cash was seized. The cocaine and cash seized earlier this month was extraordinary, and would not have been accomplished without a terrific, coordinated effort by all involved. If convicted of this offense, based on the type and quantity of narcotics charged, Julius, Merritt, Carr, Burruss, Crosley and Bellamy face a minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years, officials said. After Connecticut State Police took Ramos into custody both search & seizure warrants were executed, one at this address, where a large amount of cash was seized. CHARGES: Poss. Lil B, LB and Little Black, 33, of New Haven. A joint investigation by Waterbury police and the Drug Enforcement Agency's New Haven task force determined Nestor Sosa-Ortiz, 35, led the organization that received drugs from suppliers in . She Was Just Found in Puerto Rico, Hartford Hospital's Transplant Team Saves Lives Every Day, NBC & Telemundo Connecticut Job Opportunities. The severe impact of this case will be felt for some time thanks to the coordinated efforts of all of our law enforcement partners., We value the relationships we have with our federal partners and the collaborative work that is routinely done, said Chief Dominguez. Nonnie, 23, of Hartford, SHARMAINE CROSLEY, a.k.a. He said the Green has become "a place of despair" and "no longer an attraction for families or economic development. U.S. Attorney Leonard C Boyle, Special Agent in Charge David Sundberg of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and New Haven Police Acting Chief Renee Dominguez today announced that eight individuals have been charged with federal offenses related to the distribution of fentanyl, heroin, crack and powder cocaine in the New Haven area. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS If convicted of the most serious charges in the indictment, Spearman faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life; Hillard faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years, and Horton, Martinez, Shields, Gory, Hargrove and Brown face a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. JERRELL JAMISON, also known as Rell and Big Bro, 30, of Waterbury, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Janet Bond Arterton in New Haven to 60 months of imprisonment District of Connecticut The charges stem from an investigation headed by the FBIs New Haven Safe Streets/Gang Task Force and New Haven Police Department that targeted drug trafficking and related acts of violence by members, former members and associates of the Island Brothers street gang in New Haven. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. In one of the six homicides, James M. Tobin, 32, of Seymour, was charged with murder May 29 for allegedly shooting and killing Thomas Hart on Congress Avenue May 21. Barry, 58, of Hamden, ERIC BURRUSS, a.k.a. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. It seems that JavaScript is not working in your browser. People on and around the historic New Haven Green near Yale University began falling ill shortly after 8 a.m. Wednesday, and the overdoses continued into Thursday morning. As a result of the investigation, sheriff's officials say they confiscated approximately 20 kilograms of methamphetamine, one kilogram of cocaine, 417 grams of oxycodone, four guns, a 2021 GMC Canyon ZR2 and $62,300 in cash. These people arent scientists, they dont know 100 percent what theyre doing, so Id hate to see people get hurt. He said members of the group, part of Project Longevity, identified themselves as violent by committing violent acts and sparked the inquiry. As alleged in 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 narcotics in and around the West Hills neighborhood, including the McConaughy Terrace housing complex, in New Haven. A cemetery posted a personal ad for a goose whose mate died. It ends up in the drug trade here, in this community, which is devastating, ravaging our citizens, Chief Spagnolo said. "Yesterday was extremely, extremely busy, something we haven't seen in quite some time, a lot of people dropping all at the same time," Fontana said. He appeared in court Friday and and was set at $500,000 bond. Jacobson said the investigation began more than a year ago and spanned multiple towns, cities and states. The indictment also seeks the forfeiture of the seized cash, jewelry and four vehicles. Ben Lambert was formerly a reporter with Hearst Connecticut Media Group, covering police and public safety in the New Haven area. New Dogs, Cats, Pets Available For Adoption In The New Haven Area. As a result of the investigation, law enforcement seized approximately 19 kilograms of cocaine, more than 7,000 bags of fentanyl, and more than $780,000 in cash. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. No one has been charged with a specific homicide, Jacobson said. Red, 32, of New Haven, THEODORE SMITH, a.k.a. New Haven Drug Bust Yields 1,700 Pounds of Marijuana, Worth $15M, for Distribution Throughout Tri-State Published December 4, 2020 Updated on December 4, 2020 at 3:29 am Main Office: Posted Wed, Jul 10, 2019 at 5:57 pm ET. NEW HAVEN, Conn. Police arrested a suspect Tuesday and seized over $300,000 along with 4.5 "bricks" of heroin. Connecticut Financial Center It would start in the camper, and then be taken to the basement to be crystallized. In addition, Merritt is charged with one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, which carries a mandatory consecutive sentence of at least five years, and one count of possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years. On 12/06/10, the Connecticut State Police Statewide Narcotics Task Force developed information regarding a large shipment of marijuana that was being transported to the New Haven area. On behalf of the New Haven Police Department, I want to thank the FBI and all of our law enforcement partners for their work in this investigation and for the ongoing collaboration to reduce gun violence and improve the quality of life for the citizens of New Haven, Reyes said. As of Thursday night, police were questioning a third unidentified person, who had not been arrested. Mac and Bridgeport, 43, of West Haven, TYRESE STANLEY, a.k.a. Matt, 44, of Fitchburg, Mass. Local and federal law enforcement seized roughly 19 kilograms of cocaine, more than 7,000 bags of fentanyl, and over $780,000 in cash as part of a drug bust that has led to the arrest of seven New Haveners and a 64-year-old supplier from New York. A lock ( On April 12, 2019, Merritt was arrested after a search of his vehicle revealed a Berretta 9 mm pistol and two loaded gun magazines, the release said. A grand jury in New Haven returned a 15-count indictment Tuesday related to the distribution of crack cocaine, cocaine and heroin in Connecticut and Massachusetts, U.S. States Attorney for Connecticut John H. Durham announced in a joint press release with Brian C. Turner, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the FBI, and New Haven Police Chief Otoniel Reyes. The U.S. Attorneys Office will continue to work with our federal, state and local partners to stem the drug trade in our cities and appropriately prosecute those responsible for it., We understand the frustration at times expressed by community members about the drug activity within their neighborhoods, said FBI Special Agent in Charge Sundberg. Additional arrests were made related to the case: David King, 40, of Winter Haven, Shaun Lehoe, 42, of Bradenton and James Hall, 47, of Sarasota as each person reportedly met individually with undercover detectives in attempts to purchase large amounts of methamphetamine, according to the PSCO. This clandestine laboratory was in fact not your normal clandestine laboratory. of marijuana over 1 kilo, Poss. 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. At 11 a.m., detectives and patrol officers. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. (New Haven Police) NEW HAVEN Even though a 33-year-old local man had a valid medical marijuana card, police said it did not allow him to smoke the drug while driving. Southington: Adventure Awaits! The indictment also charges several defendants with one or more counts related to the distribution of various narcotics. In total 110.5 lbs of marijuana and $23,770 in cash was seized. Now, theyve shut the alleged lab down andthe Drug Enforcement Agency sent a team to take the contents to Boston. On June 16, Atkinson and Draughn were arrested in connection with the seizure of approximately 10,000 bags of heroin. The investigation subsequently identified a second drug trafficking network that involved the large-scale distribution of heroin., As alleged, these drug trafficking networks have been responsible for the distribution of significant quantities of heroin, crack and cocaine in Connecticut and Massachusetts, said Connecticut U.S. Attorney John H. Durham, in the release. It worked. Buturla said that on Dec. 2, the Street Crime Unit, with officers from the Patrol Division and K-9 Unit, task force officers from the Drug Enforcement Administration and FBI, stopped a rented. of marijuana with intent to sell over 1 kilo, Poss. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. To learn more about ChatGPT and how we can inspire students, we sat down with BestReviews book expert, Ciera Pasturel. Spearman, Horton, Martinez, Shields and Gory are also charged with additional narcotics offenses. Many victims lost consciousness, officials said. 2018 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Island Brothers were more prominent in past years, Jacobson said. First during a search of two cars at traffic stops then at the home of one of the drivers. U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Connecticut, Eight Charged after FBI New Haven Task Force Investigation; 19 Kilos of Cocaine,$780K Seized, Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces, Meriden Man Charged with Cocaine Trafficking Offenses, Jury Finds Waterbury Man Guilty of Narcotics Distribution and Firearm Possession Offenses, Armed Waterbury Gang Member Sentenced to 5 Years in Federal Prison for Drug Distribution Offense, Eight Charged After FBI New Haven Task Force Investigation; 19 Kilos of Cocaine,$780K Seized.