Stamford Man Sentenced to 14 Years in Federal Prison for Role in Southwest Connecticut Drug Trafficking Ring

Nora R. Dannehy, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ARBNOR GJINI, also known as "Cookie," 26, of Stamford, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Mark R. Kravitz in New Haven to 168 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for his participation in a Fairfield County narcotics trafficking operation. On November 14, 2008, GJINI pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base ("crack cocaine"), and one count of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine.

This matter stems from a Federal Bureau of Investigation Safe Streets Task Force investigation in a large-scale, narcotics trafficking ring in Southwestern Connecticut headed by Isni Gjuraj of Stamford. GJINI was a high-ranking member of the organization. The investigation revealed that, beginning in early 2007, GJINI and Gjuraj would travel to New York approximately one or two times a week to purchase between one and three kilograms of cocaine from their source of supply. Gjuraj would convert most of the powder cocaine into crack cocaine prior to distributing it to dealers operating in Stamford and Norwalk. The remainder would be sold in powder form. GJINI also had a "side-business," distributing cocaine and heroin to customers in Greenwich.

During the course of the conspiracy, the Gjuraj organization was responsible for selling in excess of 56 kilograms of crack cocaine. Gjuraj also has admitted that he paid someone to murder another individual in retaliation for the individual's providing information about a narcotics trafficking offense to a law enforcement officer, and also procured a firearm for use in the offense. On December 24, 2007, the intended victim was shot six times and sustained serious bodily injury.

As part of the investigation, on January 17, 2008, FBI Task Force agents seized a Toyota Camry, which was registered to GJINI, from a parking lot in Port Chester, New York. A subsequent search of a secret compartment within the center console of the vehicle revealed 851.8 grams of crack cocaine, 581.6 grams of cocaine, two scales used for weighing narcotics, a fully loaded handgun and approximately $3000 cash.

On January 18, 2008, FBI Task Force agents also seized 300 grams of crack cocaine that Gjuraj had secreted in a stone wall at a location in Stamford.

On February 14, 2008, a federal grand jury returned a 30-count Indictment charging GJINI, Gjuraj, and 20 other individuals with various federal drug trafficking, firearm and witness tampering offenses related to the distribution of cocaine and crack cocaine in Southwestern Connecticut.

In addition to his term of imprisonment, GJINI has forfeited to the Government approximately $13,300 in cash, his Toyota Camry and a .45 caliber handgun.

GJINI has been detained since his arrest on January 31, 2008.

On November 14, 2008, Gjuraj pleaded guilty to one count of retaliating against a witness, one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine base, and one count of Hobbs Act Robbery. On August 5, 2009, Judge Kravtiz sentenced Gjuraj to 320 months of imprisonment.

This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Safe Streets Task Force, which is composed of members of federal and local law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation Division, and the Norwalk, Bridgeport, Trumbull, Fairfield and Stamford Police Departments. This 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.

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