, Stone Academy closure leaves graduates in limbo, Doctor discusses benefits of Mediterranean diet, Hartford Athletic unveils wacky new mascot, Hartford team bonds hockey players who are blind, CT gets $18M to prevent chemicals from entering water, Wallingford locals frustrated with troublesome youths, PD: 2 arrested in fatal Vernon trench collapse, Conn. farmers advocate for $300B federal ag bill, Traveler taken to hospital from Bradley airport, Hartford official, who union wanted fired, to resign, 2 teens charged with assault for Waterbury school, Shelter needs to find homes for over 30 animals, Rat population on the rise in Connecticut, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Drug packaging material (bags, elastic bands and scales). Jacobson said the investigation began more than a year ago and spanned multiple towns, cities and states. / CBS/AP. 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. JAMAINE JACKSON, a.k.a. If convicted of this offense, based on the quantity of heroin charged, Backman, Atkinson and Draughn face a minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years. He said the Green has become "a place of despair" and "no longer an attraction for families or economic development. Officials said Merritts criminal history includes multiple felony convictions for assault, risk of injury and robbery. The investigation subsequently identified a second drug trafficking network that involved the large-scale distribution of heroin. WATERBURY, Conn. (1010 WINS) -- A New Haven DEA task force arrested 14 people on Wednesday during a massive drug bust in Waterbury that also yielded 18 kilos of drugs, $290,000 in cash and . It could be because it is not supported, or that JavaScript is intentionally disabled. Police were tipped off to a DMT lab about a month ago and have been surveying it ever since. No deaths were reported in either outbreak. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. The indictment also charges several defendants with one or more counts related to the distribution of various narcotics. Atkinson and Draughn were arrested June 16 in connection with the seizure of approximately 10,000 bags of heroin, the release said. 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. 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. . The war against the illegal opioid trade continued on March 28 in New Haven federal court, as New Haven resident Bienvenido Gonzalez was sentenced to 12 years in prison for trafficking heroin, followed by five years under supervised release. 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. (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. 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. The other defendants, if convicted of this charge, face a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. 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. Canfield has been convicted for selling drugs in Massachusetts and had two weeks left on his parole. Scoot, 29, of New Haven, MELVIN ROBERTS, a.k.a. NEW HAVEN City police and federal authorities announced 25 members of an alleged drug ring responsible for recent violence in the city were indicted Wednesday. JAMAINE JACKSON, a.k.a. Have a question about Government Services? A lock ( B, NYB and New York B, 54, of New Haven, ANDERSON ATKINSON, a.k.a. PCSO still seek another suspect, PCSO will back up agencies sending employees to border, Polk County Public Schools help nearly 4,000 homeless students each year, OPINION: Florida is safe. Please enter valid email address to continue. In total 110.5 lbs of marijuana and $23,770 in cash was seized. Its pretty unusual that this type of operation would be done in a neighborhood such as this, said Lt. Vance. Its very volatile. She Was Just Found in Puerto Rico, Hartford Hospital's Transplant Team Saves Lives Every Day, NBC & Telemundo Connecticut Job Opportunities. We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. At 11 a.m., detectives and patrol officers. New Haven first responders were called to a similar overdose outbreak on the Green on July 4, when more than a dozen people became sick from synthetic marijuana. A multi-agency investigation targeting the Sinaloa Drug Cartel. Some of those indicted Wednesday are older, and already have been to prison and released. 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. He will be arraigned at Superior Court GA #23 New Haven today 12/9/10. 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. What started as a simple call about a suspicious package two days agoended with some seriously bad drugs taken off the streets, and nine drug dealers behind bars, saidPolk County Sheriff Grady Judd. The success of this case is credited to Connecticut State Police, Guilford and New Haven Police. The federal Drug Enforcement Administration tested some of the synthetic marijuana seized in New Haven and did not find fentanyl, said Fontana, the city's emergency operations director. Merced said Canfield found the recipe for DMT and was trying to see if it would catch on. Lil B, LB and Little Black, 33, of New Haven. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Last year, in 2020, Waterbury saw well over 400 non-fatal overdoses, well over a hundred fatal overdoses in this community and thats a tragedy.. 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. 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. Waterbury Police say they were raiding the home as part of a bigger drug trafficking investigation. Officials said three people have been arrested in connection with the overdoses, including a man who may have been giving out free samples of K2. Those indicted are associated with the Island Brothers, a group once centered around Quinnipiac Avenue, Lt. Karl Jacobson said. Connecticut Financial Center TIFFANY BROWN, also known as Tiff, 39 of New Haven. (Tempe PD). Im in shock. "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. Lock Reyes said the series of arrests will help quell violence in the city. 2018 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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. WaWa, 40, of Hamden, SHAVAR BELLAMY, a.k.a. font size, Connecticut State Police Make Drug Bust In New Haven. Bradford Betz is a Fox News Digital breaking reporter covering crime, political issues, and much more. Money Wisdom: Should I Retire in Connecticut? On Tuesday, multiple Police agencies carried out a search warrant at a home in . Contact: 860-685-8230. pio.dps@po.state.ct.us. Obituary: Stephen Joseph Milano Sr., 57, Of New Haven, Tweed New Haven Airport Draft Environmental Assessment Done, Yale Womens Organization Offers Continuing Education Scholarships. He said state health officials delivered 50 doses of naxolone to the city to help replenish its supply. 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. Floor 25 The indictment seeks the forfeiture of the cash and Merritts 2018 Nissan Maxima. TOMMY JULIUS, a.k.a. March 14th 2023 "Live" Virtual CT Real Estate Licensing Classes! He praised the collaborative effort Wednesday. Mac and Bridgeport, 43, of West Haven, TYRESE STANLEY, a.k.a. The investigation, which included court-authorized wiretaps and controlled purchases of narcotics, also revealed that the drug trafficking organization had established a base of operation in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, according to authorities. Reyes said the joint city, state, federal investigation remains in progress. He said members of the group, part of Project Longevity, identified themselves as violent by committing violent acts and sparked the inquiry. Its a significant seizure for us yesterday, Chief Spagnolo said. The Richard C. Lee United States Courthouse, the home of U.S. District Court in New Haven, at 141 Church St. Ben Lambert / Hearst Connecticut Media 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. The Sinaloa cartel is reportedly more powerful now than the infamous Medillin cartel was at the height of its power in the 1980s and 1990s. Matt, 44, of Fitchburg, Mass. The case began to unfold after PSCO officials said a detective on June 23 responded to a shipping facility in Winter Haven regarding a suspicious package. Inside Conyers' car, police say they found: 13 Kilograms of cocaine 354 grams of crystal. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Police arrested Ryan Canfield, 32, on several charges, including operating a drug factory. At the time of Merritts arrest, he was also in the possession of $73,343 in cash and six cellphones, according to authorities. The Federal Bureau of Investigation partnered with New Haven police, state police, other federal authorities, and officers from Milford, East Haven and Hamden during the investigation, Reyes said. Many ancient pipes in CT aren't up to the task of draining storm water, yet officials just seem to shrug. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. 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. It could result in people getting really hurt, explosions. Two men from Reston, Virginia, 23-year-old Jourdan Maniray and 20-year-old I'real Jones, were charged with possession with intent to sell over 1 kilogram of marijuana and possession of a controlled substance. We will continue to leverage those partnerships to the benefit of the city of New Haven and our citizens, he said. Its extremely dangerous, said Lt. J. Paul Vance of the Connecticut State Police said. The arrests of these individuals will provide an immediate positive impact in the community as we continue to work together to make our community safer. Today, we stand together to reinforce, to anyone that would choose to pick up a gun in the city of New Haven, that we will not tolerate gun violence in our city.. Attorneys Anthony E. Kaplan and Kenneth L. Gresham through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program. E, 40, of New Haven, PRISHONNA TURNER, a.k.a. 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 . Eighteen of the defendants were arrested Wednesday, five defendants were already in custody and two defendants are still being sought, officials said. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, On 12/08/10 the shipment of marijuana in several boxes wrapped as Christmas packages were delivered to the accused by the informant. Officials said Merritts criminal history includes multiple felony convictions for assault, risk of injury and robbery. San Diego officials make huge fentanyl bust between ports of entry. Two men are facing charges after a drug bust was made in Hamden on Tuesday. Officers began investigating a large scale international. 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. It ends up in the drug trade here, in this community, which is devastating, ravaging our citizens, Chief Spagnolo said. 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. The investigation revealed that Smith, Duarte, Reyes and Holcomb were distributing heroin and crack cocaine throughout the New Haven area. 0:50. by: LaSalle Blanks, Multimedia Journalist. Spring & Summer at Mt. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Inside Conyers car, police say they found: Inside Ortiz car, police say they found: Chief Spagnolo says getting drugs off the streets is a top priority because of the crisis situation they lead to on the streets contributing to Waterburys nightmarish opioid fight. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. 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. Opinion: OPINION: Florida is safe. MATTHEW MOORE, a.k.a. Connecticut police arrested two men and seized an estimated $15 million in marijuana after discovering a storage facility was being used illegally as a hub for pot distribution in the Northeast, authorities said Thursday.