Informed of the indictment, Bradley surrendered to federal marshals and appeared in U.S. District Court to face conspiracy and wire fraud charges. In 2017, the city recorded 4,731 crimes, a 7.5% increase from the previous year. #Bridgeport CT- On Thursday February 16, 2023, the Bridgeport Police Department arrested 46-year-old Bridgeport resident Jorge Ruiz (DOB 01/19/1977) for multiple armed robberies that occurred throughout the City of Bridgeport and other municipalities in the State of Connecticut. The ban would last from Dec. 1 to March 31, a measure Moore said is to keep people from losing their housing during the . U.S. Attorney Durham stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Main Office: The conspiracy to commit murder offense carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years and the conspiracy to commit assault offense carries a maximum term of imprisonment of three years. The indictment charges Gaines, Calderon, Blackwell, Jones, Benejan and Kirkland with one count of conspiracy to engage in a pattern of racketeering activity, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. Benejan was arrested on February 19. The five defendants are also charged with conspiracy to commit murder/conspiracy to commit assault with a dangerous weapon. Garf or Gbaby, a member and associate of the O.N.E. How much was the bill for BDK lasts night? The indictment is part of on-going investigations by local, state and federal law enforcement targeting drug-driven violence in cities like Bridgeport and Hartford. Ali was grazed in the head and shot in the left thumb, and Warren was grazed in the ribs. 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. Great job by the state here. He also has covered politics for the Stamford Advocate and the city of Norwalk for The Norwalk Hour. JACQUON BENEJAN, a.k.a. 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. Ned Gerard / Hearst Connecticut Media NEW HAVEN Bridgeport Councilman Michael DeFilippo has been. Among the violent acts committed by the gang, the indictment alleges that: If convicted, Donald, Wright and Dangerfield face a maximum term of imprisonment of life, and Hayes faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. Batchelor was arrested this morning. CM/ECF keeps out-of-pocket expenses low, gives concurrent access to case files by multiple parties, and offers . In terms of how the chain of events got started in Bridgeport, what is known is that in late 2018 city officials received an anonymous letter alleging cash from municipal scrap metal sales was being misappropriated and contracts rigged within the public facilities department. ASANTE GAINES, 23 U.S. Attorney Durham stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Floor 25 Merriam via videoconference and was ordered detained. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Have a question about Government Services? 3. A lock ( The victims vehicle had approximately 23 entry bullet holes in the drivers side and windshield area. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. 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. Fax Line: (203) 773- 5376. BRIDGEPORT ?. Marshals Service, Bridgeport Police Department, Connecticut State Police and the Bridgeport States Attorneys Office, with the assistance of the U.S. Charges are only allegations, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Fax Line: (203) 773- 5376. Gaines is detained in state custody on unrelated charges. This ongoing investigation is methodically getting to the roots of much of the violent activity Bridgeport has experienced during the last few years, said U.S. Attorney Durham. "The federal charges against these five defendants are the result of an extensive . Marshals Service, Bridgeport Police Department, Connecticut State Police and the Bridgeport States Attorneys Office, with the assistance of the Connecticut Forensic Science Laboratory and the Waterbury Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. This prosecution is a part of the Justices Departments Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), Project Longevity and Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) programs. Cloudy with snow showers mainly during the morning. 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. An official website of the United States government. As alleged, this shooting is part of a larger ongoing investigation targeting the GHB/Hots, ONE and rival gangs. The federal charges against these five defendants are the result of an extensive investigation conducted by a partnership of law enforcement entities formed to address the surge in violent crime in the city of Bridgeport, said U.S. Attorney Durham. Thats what the FBI is looking to restore, to ensure.. The other defendants are detained in federal or state custody. Bradley replied with a shushing emoticon, the indictment says. The indictment, which was returned on January 19 and unsealed yesterday, charges, KEISHAWN DONALD, 19 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. Bear right onto Lafayette Boulevard, proceed to the third traffic light. 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. Is CT recycling going into the trash? Bridgeport Directions: View Larger Map North Follow Interstate 95 south to Exit 27 (Lafayette Blvd). A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Official websites use .gov Loose Screw, 20 His accused accomplice, 73-year-old David Dunn, Bridgeport's former acting personnel director, also pleaded guilty to the same charges. Sen. Dennis A. Bradley Jr., D-Bridgeport, and his former campaign treasurer, Jessica Martinez, were accused in a federal indictment unsealed Tuesday of conspiring in 2018 to defraud. 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. Official websites use .gov Federal authorities on Thursday arrested the police chief and the personnel director of Bridgeport, Conn., on charges of fraud, alleging the two rigged the process that led to the chief's hiring . Both men resigned, pleaded guilty and in late May began serving their respective prison terms. A federal jury in New Haven has found RAMON OQUENDO, also known as Mimo, 46, of Waterbury, guilty of narcotics trafficking and firearm possession offenses. They appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Holly B. Fitsimmons via video conference and are detained. A federal grand jury in New Haven returned an indictment charging the four Bridgeport men with conspiring to engage in a pattern of racketeering activity, including drug trafficking, murder and . The assault offense carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years and the attempted offenses carry a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years. CONNECTICUT A tax preparer who served clients in Connecticut is facing federal fraud charges. U.S. Attorney Durham noted that, in the past year, 22 members of the GHB/Hotz, O.N.E. Milford and Madison, Connecticut, United States. Official websites use .gov An official website of the United States government. 157 Church Street They turn a rock over, uncover something and follow up with it, said Twardy, a former U.S. Attorney for Connecticut. 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 A federal grand jury in New Haven has returned an indictment charging five Bridgeport men with multiple offenses stemming from their alleged involvement in an afternoon shooting in front of a state courthouse in Bridgeport in January. Jan. 10, 2001 . 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. Wright was arrested yesterday. Manchester, CT (06045) Today. But are they done? Acting U.S. Attorney Boyle stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. This prosecution is a part of the Justices Departments Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), Project Longevity and Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) programs. Due to the overnight inclement weather , the lottery's Rocky Hill offices were closed on Tuesday. HARRY BATCHELOR, also known as Bookie, 24. This charge carries a maximum 10-year prison term and a fine of up to $250,000. This is unacceptable and will not be allowed to happen. District of Connecticut Lock 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 Bridgeports North End. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS 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. gang; On January 26, 2020, Wright shot and killed Myreke Kenion and shot and attempted to kill DAndre Brown, both members and associates of the GHB/Hotz gang; On June 25, 2020, Dangerfield and JW, an East End associate who is now deceased, and another individual, shot and killed Tyler Ballew, a member and associate of the O.N.E. Bradley. A locked padlock ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. The indictment charges Isreal, Gaines, Calderon, Blackwell and Jones with one count of assault with a dangerous weapon, attempted murder/aiding and abetting in assault with a dangerous weapon, and attempted murder, all in violation of the Violent Crimes in Aid of Racketeering (VCAR) statute. TYIESE WARREN, a.k.a. Main Office: CT proposal causes confusion, concern. Isreal, Calderon, Blackwell and Jones were arrested today. The arrest comes on a day when the Senate was set to debate final passage of a bill legalizing sports betting and online gambling, an issue under the jurisdiction of the committee that Bradley had co-chaired, the Public Safety and Security Committee. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Francis, a member of the financial fraud and public corruption unit, told U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert Spector that the case involves a loss of $84,140, which is the public grant Bradley obtained for his primary in 2018, and an intended additional loss of $95,170, the general election grant Bradley never received. The settlement approved by U.S. District Judge Travis McDonough on Monday calls for the U . A locked padlock DeFilippo prevailed each time. And, after each indictment, observers have been left wondering, are investigators done? Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF. and GHB/Hotz gangs have been charged with federal offenses as a result of this ongoing investigation. Lock Barnum housing project. The U.S. Attorneys office did not return a request for comment and has a policy of not discussing pending cases. Connecticut Financial Center 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. Isreal and Warren are members of the Original North End (O.N.E.), a Bridgeport gang whose members have been allies with GHB/Hotz members since approximately 2017. An official website of the United States government. Mark is the Capitol Bureau Chief and a co-founder of CT Mirror. 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. Glasser said campaign finance laws are complex and replete with gray areas.. Garf or Gbaby, a member and associate of the O.N.E. PHILIP FROST, 33, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Robert M. Chatigny in Hartford to 180 months of imprisonment, followed by 15 years of supervised release, for a child exploitation offense. Comments. In fact in February 2015 the U.S. Attorneys Office in Connecticut announced the creation of a special, multi-agency anti-public corruption task force and followed that up with a handful of billboard advertisements including in Bridgeport promoting the effort and a tip phone line. Marshals Service, for their collaborative effort in bringing these individuals to justice.. 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 Police Chief Armando J. Perez; Kelly D. Brady, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Boston Field Division; David Sundberg, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England. A federal grand jury in New Haven has returned an indictment charging MIGUEL ACEVEDO, 40, of Meriden, with cocaine trafficking offenses. 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. A man from Meriden has been indicted on federal charges in connection to alleged cocaine trafficking, officials said. Marshals, and Bridgeport Police are actively investigating multiple Bridgeport-based groups whose members are involved in narcotics trafficking, murder and other acts of violence. Two private attorneys with insight into the inner workings of federal probes Stanley Twardy Jr. and Christopher Mattei said it is not unusual for authorities to start with one area of interest, and eventually branch out to others. A lock ( It absolutely should be looking at if a police chief cheated on an exam. During the time of his arrest, Jorge Ruiz had an . The indictment accuses him of filing false documents to the elections commission to obtain the primary grant. In separate appearances, both pleaded not guilty. Law Offices of Charles L. Kurmay. U.S. Attorney Durham noted that, in the past year, 21 members of the East End, O.N.E. On January 30, 2018, Donald shot and killed Eric Heard, a.k.a. An official website of the United States government. This prosecution is a part of the Justices Departments Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), Project Longevity and Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) programs. On May 22, 2015, Kirkland shot and attempted to kill KJ, a member or associate of the 150 gang; On February 7, 2018, Benejan and Blackwell shot and attempted to kill MJ, a member or associate of the 150 gang; On February 27, 2018, Kirkland shot and attempted to kill TH, a member or associate of the East End gang; On October 4, 2018, Kirkland and Benejan shot and attempted to kill MS, a member or associate of the East End gang; January 27, 2020, Gaines, Calderon, Blackwell, Jones, Isreal and Warren shot and attempted to kill members and associates of the East End gang. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS Attorneys Rahul Kale, Jocelyn C. Kaoutzanis, Peter D. Markle and Karen L. Peck. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. The mayor does have on his payroll one of the retired FBI agents who investigated him two decades ago, Edward Adams, who endorsed Ganims comeback and was hired as an aide. DEA and its local, state and federal partners are dedicated to bringing to justice those that commit these crimes.. A lock ( Have a question about Government Services? Lock have been aligned against rival groups in Bridgeport, including the East End, East Side and PT Barnum gangs, as well as 150, which is a is a geographic gang based on the West Side of Bridgeport. A federal grand jury in New Haven has returned an indictment charging MIGUEL ACEVEDO, 40, of Meriden, with cocaine trafficking offenses. 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. Looks like the state is trying to pass a law that towns cannot charge more than double the rate for beach parking passes that it charges residents. Hes not going any place, Glasser told the judge. This is unacceptable and will not be allowed to happen. In addition, Gaines, Calderon, Blackwell, Jones, Isreal and Warren are charged with one count of assault with a dangerous weapon, attempted murder/aiding and abetting in assault with a dangerous weapon, and attempted murder, all in violation of the Violent Crimes in Aid of Racketeering (VCAR) statute. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Theres got to be something else going on here, said former state Rep. Christopher Caruso, who had a reputation as a good-government policymaker during his 20-year tenure in office, this week following DeFilippos arrest. Press Release. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. New Haven, CT 06510, Telephone: (203) 821-3700 A Connecticut man is facing a host of federal charges for alleged tax fraud, obstruction, and identity theft offenses, officials announced. Project Longevity is a comprehensive initiative to reduce gun violence in Connecticuts major cities. 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. Ken Dixon. New Haven, CT 06510, Telephone: (203) 821-3700 Opinion I expect it does. Among the violent acts committed by the defendants, the indictment alleges that: As to the January 27, 2020, shooting, at 12:11 p.m. on that date, Bridgeport Police responded to the area of 172 Golden Hill Street in Bridgeport after a Shot Spotter activation detected approximately 20 shots being fired in front of the state courthouse located there. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge William I. Garfinkel via videoconference and is detained.