FBI TASK FORCE TAKES DOWN FAIRFIELD COUNTY DRUG TRAFFICKING RING
Kevin J. O’Connor, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that a federal grand jury sitting in Bridgeport has returned an Indictment charging 22 individuals with various federal drug trafficking, firearm and witness tampering offenses related to the distribution of cocaine and crack cocaine in southwestern Connecticut. The 30-count Indictment was returned on February 14, 2008, and unsealed today following the arrest and presentment of several of the defendants. The investigation was spearheaded by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Safe Streets Task Force, which is comprised of members of federal and local law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, the IRS and the Norwalk, Bridgeport, Trumbull and Fairfield Police Departments. The FBI also received assistance from the Stamford Police Department and the Connecticut State Police.
Among those charged in the Indictment are ISNI GJURAJ, a.k.a. “Ease,” 27, of Stamford; ARBNOR GJINI, a.k.a. “Cookie, ” 25, of Stamford; RICHARD DAVIS, a.k.a. “Buck,” “Poo Poo” and “Shooter,” 31, of Norwalk; ANTONIO ROBINSON, a.k.a. “Dave” and “Biggie Smalls,” 37, of Stamford; JERRYLE SNIDER, a.k.a. “Shitty,” “Broadway” and “Leroy,” 20, of Norwalk; TRAYSON STEVENS, a.k.a. “Tray 8,” “Jay” and “Mitch,” 22, of Norwalk; STACEY GOSS, a.k.a. “Binky,” 30, of Norwalk; SASHA KOPPEL, 21, of Norwalk; DONDON FLETCHER, a.k.a. “Yellow,” 32, of Norwalk; BRENT MENSKEY, 21, of Norwalk; TRAVIS SIMMS, a.k.a. “Trav Lo” and “Love,” 19, of Norwalk; ALAN DONALD, a.k.a. “Bo Donald,” 46, of Bridgeport; LAVAUGHN BROWN, a.k.a. “Vaughny,” 20, of Bridgeport; MIKE PETERS, 24, of Stamford; BILL BOLLMAN, 62, of Norwalk; JOHN GODWIN, 36, of Norwalk; DAVID KARP, 53, of Westport; DAVID PETERS, 46, of New Canaan; LUIS SERRANO, 27, of Norwalk; and DAVID WALSH, a.k.a. “Caddy,” 52, of Norwalk.
According to the Indictment, GJURAJ, GJINI and DAVIS headed an organization that engaged in narcotics trafficking and acts of violence. It is alleged that GJURAJ, GJINI and others regularly obtained large, wholesale quantities of cocaine, crack cocaine and heroin from sources of supply located in Connecticut and New York. GJURAJ and others would then convert the majority of the cocaine into crack cocaine and package it for re-distribution. The Indictment further alleges that DAVIS was then responsible for distributing the crack cocaine to various members of the organization, including SNIDER, STEVENS, GOSS, KOPPEL, FLETCHER and others, who, in turn, re-distributed the packaged narcotics to the organization’s street level dealers, as well as sold the narcotics to drug users. The organization primarily distributed narcotics at locations throughout Norwalk, Stamford and Bridgeport.
In addition to bearing responsibility for the distribution of crack cocaine to lower-ranking members of the organization, the Indictment also alleges that DAVIS, in conjunction with ROBINSON, acted as the “enforcers” or “muscle” for the organization. In particular, DAVIS, ROBINSON and their associates acted to protect the organization’s members from detection, apprehension and conviction for their illegal activities by intimidating witnesses and otherwise obstructing justice.
Various members of the organization allegedly carried and used firearms while conducting the affairs of the organization. Some of these firearms were stored in vehicles and at various locations or “stash houses,” in part to avoid their detection and confiscation by law enforcement authorities.
Finally, the Indictment alleges that when members of the organization were arrested or wanted by law enforcement, other members of the organization would post bail and retain and/or pay for counsel for those individuals, in part, in an effort to ensure that they did not provide information about the organization’s criminal activities or otherwise cooperate with law enforcement.
The charges in the Indictment and the applicable penalties are as follows:
GJURAJ, DAVIS and ROBINSON were indicted on charges of tampering with and retaliating against a witness, which carries a term of imprisonment of up to 20 years. These individuals were also charged with the use of a firearm in relation to a crime of violence, for which there is a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of ten years, a maximum term of life and a fine of up to $250,000.
GJURAJ, GJINI, DAVIS, ROBINSON, SNIDER, STEVENS, GOSS, KOPPEL, FLETCHER, MENSKEY and SIMMS were indicted on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base (“crack cocaine”), which carries a mandatory minimum period of imprisonment of ten years, a maximum term of life and a fine of up to $4 million.
GJURAJ, GJINI and DAVIS were also indicted on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine, which carries a mandatory minimum period of imprisonment of ten years, a maximum term of life and a fine of up to $4 million.
GJURAJ, GJINI, DAVIS, STEVENS, DONALD, BROWN and MIKE PETERS were indicted on charges of possession with intent to distribute over 50 grams of cocaine base, which carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of ten years, a maximum term of life and a fine of up to $4 million.
DAVIS, SIMMS, STEVENS and MIKE PETERS were indicted on charges of possession with intent to distribute over 5 grams of cocaine base, which carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years, a maximum term of life and a fine of up to $2 million.
DAVIS and GOSS were indicted on charges of possession with intent to distribute cocaine base, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment and a fine of up to $1 million.
MENSKEY and STEVENS were indicted for conspiracy to maintain a premises for the purpose of distributing a controlled substance, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment and a fine of up to $500,000.
GJINI and DAVIS were indicted on charges of use of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, which carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 5 years, a maximum term of life and a fine of up to $250,000.
GJINI, DAVIS and STEVENS were indicted on charges of unlawful possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.
BOLLMAN, GODWIN, KARP, PETERS, SERRANO and WALSH were indicted for unlawful use of a telephone to facilitate the commission a felony drug trafficking offense, which carries a maximum penalty of 4 years of imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.
Other individuals were also taken into custody today pursuant to state arrest warrants for the commission of narcotics trafficking offenses, including CARLOS GONZALEZ, 18, of Norwalk, DAHONTE HILLIARD ROBERTS, 18, of Norwalk, and JEFF ARMSTRONG, 18, of Norwalk.
Norwalk Police Department Chief Harry Rilling stated "The Norwalk Police Department has long recognized the value of alliances with other local, state and federal law enforcement agencies, combining efforts and resources to serve the common good; the effectiveness of this investigation illustrates that value. We wish to thank the FBI Safe Streets Task Force, the Norwalk Police Department Special Services Division, the Bridgeport Police Department, the Stamford Police Department, the Statewide Narcotics Task Force, as well as the U.S. Attorney's office for their hard work and dedication.
U.S. Attorney O’Connor stressed that an indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Each defendant is entitled to a fair trial at which it is the Government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tracy Lee Dayton of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force. |
