Violent Gang Member Jauwan Edwards Sentenced to 6+ Years

A notorious member of a violent Bridgeport gang has been handed a stiff sentence for his role in a string of violent crimes.

Jauwan Edwards, also known as ‘Yaya,’ 26, of Bridgeport, was sentenced to 78 months in federal prison for his involvement in the Original North End (O.N.E.) gang.

Edwards was one of several members of the gang who have been convicted of federal offenses stemming from an investigation into the gang’s activities.

According to court documents and statements made in court, the FBI, ATF, DEA, U.S. Marshals Service, Connecticut State Police and Bridgeport Police have been investigating multiple Bridgeport-based gangs whose members were involved in narcotics trafficking, murder, and other acts of violence.

Edwards was a key player in the O.N.E. gang, which committed acts of violence against rival gangs, including the East End gang, the East Side gang, and the PT Barnum gang.

Edwards’ involvement in the gang was revealed through a complex investigation that involved the analysis of numerous social media posts and text messages.

As part of his guilty plea, Edwards admitted to possessing firearms and selling various drugs, including fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, crack, Percocet pills, and marijuana.

Edwards also participated in the theft and possession of stolen vehicles, including a Lexus Rx350 that was stolen from Rye, New York, and used in a homicide.

The investigation has solved eight murders and approximately 20 attempted murders, and has resulted in the convictions of approximately 47 members and associates of the East End, O.N.E. and the GHB/Hotz gangs.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karen L. Peck, Tara E. Levens, Patrick J. Doherty, Rahul Kale, and Jocelyn C. Kaoutzanis as part of the Justice Department’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) program.

PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.

The sentencing of Edwards is a significant blow to the O.N.E. gang and a testament to the dedication of law enforcement agencies in Connecticut to keeping the streets safe.

Edwards has been detained since his arrest in July 2021 and will serve three years of supervised release after completing his prison sentence.