As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, in an effort to address escalating violence in Bridgeport, the FBI, ATF, DEA, U.S. gang; On October 17, 2019, Donald agreed with other East End gang members to shoot and attempt to kill Joshua Gilbert, a member and associate of the O.N.E. Get CT Mirror emails in your inbox daily. Feb 16, 2023. U.S. Attorney Durham stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. 1997 - Present26 years. Main Office: The eight-count superseding indictment, which was returned on February 16 and unsealed today, charges, MARQUIS ISREAL, a.k.a. Comments. BRIDGEPORT, Connecticut Connecticut State Sen. Dennis Bradley and Jessica Martinez, a former chair of the Bridgeport Board of Education, have been indicted on federal charges. The indictment alleges that GHB/Hotz members and associates distributed heroin, crack cocaine, marijuana and Percocet pills; committed numerous acts of violence against rival gang members and other individuals, and celebrated their criminal conduct on social media websites such as Facebook and YouTube. A federal grand jury this week indicted Miguel Acevedo, 40, on two counts of possession with intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine and one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, the U.S. attorney's office, the Drug Enforcement Administration for New . Based on the current available information regarding Senator Bradley, I have taken a first step to protect the integrity of the State Senate, Looney said. Connecticut Financial Center Connecticut Financial Center Finally, the indictment charges Benejan with one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine base, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, which carries a mandatory consecutive sentence of at least five years. During the time of his arrest, Jorge Ruiz had an . He said there does not have to be this one conspiracy or one big racketeering enterprise. The same week Perez and Dunn reported to jail, on May 25, Bradley and Martinez, Bradleys campaign treasurer, were arrested for allegedly attempting to fraudulently obtain $179,850 in state campaign grants in 2018. U.S. Attorney Durham stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. The losers challenged the results, alleging voting improprieties, and Superior Court Judge Barbara Bellis ultimately ordered one do-over election for November 2017 and then, after concluding it too had been tainted, another for April 2018. 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. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF. Kimani Williams,. Attorneys Rahul Kale, Jocelyn C. Kaoutzanis, Peter D. Markle and Karen L. Peck. Ned Gerard / Hearst Connecticut Media NEW HAVEN Bridgeport Councilman Michael DeFilippo has been. While there have so far been no arrests related to scrap metal and/or public facilities contracts, on Sept. 10, 2020, Perez and Dunn were indicted for conspiring to help the former cheat to become a finalist for chief. Michael DeFilippo, 35, of Bridgeport pleaded not guilty Wednesday before a federal magistrate in New Haven. GHB/Hotz members and associates also 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. Marshals Service, for their collaborative effort in bringing these individuals to justice.. Barnum housing project. As part of an ongoing investigation into gang-related drug trafficking and related violence in Bridgeport, a federal grand jury in New Haven has returned a superseding indictment charging eight Bridgeport gang members with conspiring to engage in a pattern of racketeering activity, including drug trafficking and multiple attempted murders. This is unacceptable and will not be allowed to happen. Postal Inspection Service, Connecticut Forensic Science Laboratory and the Waterbury Police Department. PSN is a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make neighborhoods safer for everyone. During the course of that investigation the city hired private attorneys to represent Ganim, his chief-of-staff, Daniel Shamas, Perez and Dunn, but no charges have been brought against the mayor and Shamas. A CT bill would expand it. The other defendants were previously charged with federal offenses and are detained pending trial. Donald, Wright, Dangerfield and Hayes are members or associates 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. Benejan was arrested on February 19. We are very surprised this matter was charged in the first place, Glasser said. It was unclear how a state campaign finance investigation, which typically are resolved with civil fines or a referral to state prosecutors, became the subject of a federal indictment. The U.S. Attorneys Office and the Bridgeport States Attorneys Office are jointly supervising the investigation, and federal and state prosecutors worked seamlessly to ensure that appropriate charges were brought. A federal grand jury in New Haven has returned an indictment charging four Bridgeport men with racketeering, drug trafficking and murder, bringing the number of gang members implicated in the. Todays announcement was made by John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut; Joseph T. Corradino, States Attorney for the Fairfield Judicial District; Bridgeport Acting Police Chief Rebeca Garcia; David Sundberg, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Kelly D. Brady, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Boston Field Division; and Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England. ROBERT RALLO, 59, of New York, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to 480 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release District of Connecticut He also has covered politics for the Stamford Advocate and the city of Norwalk for The Norwalk Hour. 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. DESTINE CALDERON, 26 We are the 169 Strong. The eight defendants are members or associates 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. A federal grand jury in New Haven has returned an indictment charging MIGUEL ACEVEDO, 40, of Meriden, with cocaine trafficking offenses. Glasser said campaign finance laws are complex and replete with gray areas.. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and David Sundberg, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, today announced that a federal grand jury in Hartford returned an indictment yesterday charging Bridgeport City Council member MICHAEL DEFILIPPO, 35, with . A locked padlock An official website of the United States government. As part of an ongoing investigation into gang-related drug trafficking and related violence in Bridgeport, a federal grand jury in New Haven has returned a superseding indictment charging an additional four Bridgeport men with conspiring to engage in a pattern of racketeering activity, including drug trafficking, murder and attempted murder. South Follow Interstate 95 north to Exit 27 (Lafayette Blvd). Main Office: 3. The indictment quotes an exchange of text messages between Bradley and the unnamed campaign consultant. BRIDGEPORT >> Ten individuals were indicted Wednesday for their alleged involvement in the largest fentanyl bust in state history. TREVON WRIGHT, also known as Tre, 19 Bear right onto Lafayette Boulevard, proceed to the third traffic light. And, this past Wednesday, City Councilman Michael DeFilippo was charged for alleged illegalities involving absentee or mail-in ballots. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. According to a 24-page indictment, Bradley and a co-defendant Jessica Martinez, his former campaign treasurer and Bridgeport Board of Education member are accused of scheming to obtain. Main Office: Manchester, CT (06045) Today. Ned Lamont and General Assembly leaders to to focus on offsetting a potential property tax Armageddon. But you should be looking at this guy, too. That helps them (defendants) when it comes to sentencing., And, Twardy noted, in his experience, The larger the city, the more money. The indictment also charges Isreal with one count of using and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, an offense that carries a mandatory consecutive sentence of at least 10 years. In 2017, the city recorded 4,731 crimes, a 7.5% increase from the previous year. State Senator Dennis Bradley, D-Bridgeport, exits his arraignment on wire fraud charges in federal court in New Haven, Conn. on Tuesday, May 25, 2021. Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Joleen D . Clark said all five of the recent Bridgeport arrests meet the mission objective of the FBIs anti-corruption program. The State Elections Enforcement Commission, which administers the Citizens Election Program, denied Bradley the general election grant after an investigation prompted by two complaints, one by an opponent, Aaron Turner, and another by Maria Pereira. As part of an ongoing investigation into gang-related drug trafficking and related violence in Bridgeport, a federal grand jury in New Haven has returned a superseding indictment charging eight Bridgeport gang members with conspiring to engage in a pattern of racketeering activity, including drug trafficking and multiple attempted murders. BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT - As part of an ongoing investigation into gang-related drug trafficking and related violence in Bridgeport, a federal grand jury in New Haven has returned a superseding indictment charging eight Bridgeport gang members with conspiring to engage in a pattern of racketeering activity, including drug trafficking and multiple Perez had been acting chief for two-and-a-half years. The other defendants are detained in federal or state custody. I'm all for this one. All Rights Reserved. "AJ" Perez has resigned after being arrested and charged with fraud by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the United. I applaud the collaborative efforts of the Bridgeport Police Department, ATF, FBI and DEA in bringing those who are alleged to be responsible for this reckless and violent incident to stand trial for their actions. A federal grand jury has indicted five aerospace executives and a former manager on charges of conspiring to limit workers' professional advancement and compensation, the U.S. Department of. The indictment also charges Isreal with one count of using and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, an offense that carries a mandatory consecutive sentence of at least 10 years, and one count of possession with intent to distribute heroin, cocaine base (crack) and fentanyl, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. Merriam via videoconference and was ordered detained. The victims vehicle had approximately 23 entry bullet holes in the drivers side and windshield area. As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, in an effort to address escalating violence in Bridgeport, the FBI, ATF, DEA, U.S. The department is duty bound to investigate all such leads and bring charges where appropriate.. An official website of the United States government. who endorsed Ganims comeback and was hired as an aide. Both men resigned, pleaded guilty and in late May began serving their respective prison terms. Marshals Service, Bridgeport Police Department, Connecticut State Police and the Bridgeport States Attorneys Office, with the assistance of the U.S. Federal Home Loan Mortgage Co., 752 Boston Avenue, Bridgeport, CT 6608 Find homes for sale, market statistics, foreclosures, property taxes, real estate news, agent reviews, condos, neighborhoods on Blockshopper.com Connecticut Financial Center Garf or Gbaby, a member and associate of the O.N.E. Project Longevity is a comprehensive initiative to reduce gun violence in Connecticuts major cities. The last time the FBI made national headlines in Bridgeport was during Ganims previous administration. He is married and the father of a six-month-old child. This indictment should serve as a warning that we will not tolerate gang related violence and those who cause it., Drug trafficking, along with the violence that all too often accompanies it, is a serious threat to the safety and security of our communities, said DEA Special Agent in Charge Boyle. 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. Heard sustained multiple gunshot wounds to his back, shoulder and wrist. Griffin was first arrested by FBI agents in New Haven on Dec. 10. U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Connecticut, Superseding Indictment Charges 8 Bridgeport Gang Members with Drug Trafficking, Committing 6 Murders, Criminal - Organized Crime and Gang Section, Jury Finds Waterbury Man Guilty of Narcotics Distribution and Firearm Possession Offenses, Meriden Man Charged with Cocaine Trafficking Offenses, Man Who Robbed and Murdered Stamford Jeweler Sentenced to 40 Years in Federal Prison, Superseding Indictment Charges 8 Bridgeport Gang Members With Drug Trafficking, Committing 6 Murders. (Ned Gerard/Hearst Connecticut Media via AP, File). Official websites use .gov 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. Acting U.S. Attorney Boyle stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. TREVON WRIGHT, also known as Tre, 19 gang; On September 15, 2019, Wright shot and attempted to kill Marquis Isreal, a.k.a. Ali was grazed in the head and shot in the left thumb, and Warren was grazed in the ribs. (Shutterstock) BRIDGEPORT, CT A 33 . Attorneys Jocelyn C. Kaoutzanis, Rahul Kale, Peter D. Markle and Karen L. Peck. CM/ECF keeps out-of-pocket expenses low, gives concurrent access to case files by multiple parties, and offers . DIOMIE BLACKWELL, 23 When people dont know the answer to whats the end game that means the systems working, said Michael Clark, a retired FBI agent who is a senior lecturer with the University of New Havens criminal justice department. A man from Meriden has been indicted on federal charges in connection to alleged cocaine trafficking, officials said. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Bridgeport Board of Education Chair Jessica Martinez listens as fellow board member Chris Taylor gives his reasons for voting for her ouster during a special meeting of the board in Bridgeport, Conn. on Monday, March 2, 2020. and GHB/Hotz gangs have been charged with federal offenses as a result of this ongoing investigation. His accused accomplice, 73-year-old David Dunn, Bridgeport's former acting personnel director, also pleaded guilty to the same charges. A federal grand jury had been collecting information for a year or more about Bradley's 2018 Senate campaign, focusing on a March 2018 event at Dolphin's Cove restaurant in Bridgeport. The six defendants are also charged with conspiracy to commit murder/conspiracy to commit assault with a dangerous weapon. "The federal charges against these five defendants are the result of an extensive . Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. CT proposal causes confusion, concern. LAHEEM JONES, a.k.a. A Connecticut man is facing a host of federal charges for alleged tax fraud, obstruction, and identity theft offenses, officials announced. gang; On December 8, 2019, Wright shot and attempted to kill Arvan Smith, a.k.a. 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. During the past 10 months federal authorities, who have been scrutinizing Bridgeport's Democrat-dominated government since at least early 2018, have charged five municipal officials in a. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS The indictment alleges that the East End gang distributed heroin, crack cocaine, marijuana and Percocet pills; used and shared firearms; and committed murder and other acts of violence against rival gang members and other individuals. Republicans want tougher penalties for domestic abusers, including life in prison without release. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS Dunn was at the courthouse to be sentenced for his involvement in the police chief cheating scandal. Pounds / Hearst Connecticut Media, Christian Abraham / Hearst Connecticut Media, 2023 Hearst Media Services Connecticut, LLC, Monroe SPCA volunteers 'humbled' as hundreds file to adopt pets, Stratford calls claims in former cop's lawsuit 'preposterous', Bridgeport police deploy Taser at scene of assault, official says, M&T urged to end 'banking desert' in Bridgeport neighborhoods, Former girls soccer coach pleads guilty to sex assault of player, Monroe SPCA volunteers race deadline to find homes for animals, Fairfield man charged in alleged high-speed chase, shootout, announced the creation of a special, multi-agency anti-public corruption task force, in late 2018 city officials received an anonymous letter, February 2019, federal authorities subpoenaed, reported the FBI was also looking at the 2018 search for a police chief, in late May began serving their respective prison terms. A federal indictment returned Thursday against Thompson means that's never going to happen, no matter the outcome of the court proceedings to follow. Floor 25 157 Church Street He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge William I. Garfinkel via videoconference and is detained. Ms. White said 16 new defendants had been named in it, with the remainder named in both. 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. ASANTE GAINES, a.k.a. Fetti, a member and associate of the GHB/Hotz gang; On March 5, 2019, Hayes shot and killed Jerrell Gatewood; On July 4, 2019, Bonilla shot and killed Richard McDonald, a member and associate of the GHB/Hotz gang; On July 12, 2019, Jones and Moore shot and killed Sean Warren, also known as Kujoe, a member and associate of the O.N.E. Lock Have a question about Government Services? Gun violence, group member violence, drug activity, etc., have been an expressed concern of the residents within our communities; therefore, we have taken an even greater proactive approach by applying resources to and collaborating with these agencies, and are now witnessing the benefits of these partnerships. Marshalsand Bridgeport Police are actively investigating members of multiple Bridgeport-based groups, including members of the Greene Homes Boys or Hots (GHB/Hots), a group based in the Charles F. Greene Homes Housing Complex in Bridgeports North End, whose members are involved in narcotics trafficking and numerous acts of violence, including murder. Bradley. He emphasized the importance of confidentiality and secrecy surrounding his former responsibilities. Bridgeport resident Lamain Heard was sentenced this week to 37 months in federal prison in connection with an illegal firearm case, according to prosecutors. A Election Fraud Has Long Been An Issue In . First, then-police chief Armando Perez and then-personnel director David Dunn were charged in September for conspiring to help the former cheat to get the job. Bridgeport Directions: View Larger Map North Follow Interstate 95 south to Exit 27 (Lafayette Blvd). hired private attorneys to represent Ganim, his chief-of-staff, Daniel Shamas, Perez and Dunn, were arrested for allegedly attempting to fraudulently obtain, 'Candlewood' horror movie drops trailer inspired by local urban legends, Four Fairfield businesses fail February health inspections, CT's best breakfast restaurants for 2023, according to Connecticut Magazine, Warrant: Ex-New Fairfield 'lunch lady' sent nude images to student on Snapchat for months before sex assault, Police make up 19 of Trumbull's top 20 highest paid employees, The Best Private High Schools Near Stamford, The Best Private Preschools Near New Haven, Guide to Legal Cannabis Dispensaries in CT. be sent to the Chief States Attorney, the Secretary of the State and to federal authorities. He appeared today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah A.L. The Connecticut investigation, begun more than a year ago, was modeled on Federal, state and local task force operations that broke up violent drug gangs in the state, including the Jungle Boys.