Arthur Stanley, Gang-Related Murder, Connecticut 2011

Hartford Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for 2011 Gang-Related Murder

Arthur Stanley, 29, also known as ‘Wiggs,’ was sentenced to a mandatory life prison term for the July 15, 2011, murder of Keith Washington, 23, of Windsor.

U.S. Attorney John H. Durham and Chief State’s Attorney Kevin T. Kane announced the sentencing, which was handed down by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer in New Haven.

The murder was one of several violent crimes committed by members and associates of the Westhell and Team Grease street gangs, which were investigated by the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Violent Crimes Task Force.

On July 15, 2011, at approximately 9:28 p.m., the Hartford Police Department received a report of shots fired in the vicinity of 67 Oakland Terrace in Hartford. Officers responding to the scene located Washington, who was subsequently identified as the victim, lying on the front porch of the residence with an apparent gunshot wound to the head.

Washington was transported to the hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries on July 17, 2011. According to trial evidence and testimony, Stanley, a member of the Westhell street gang, attempted to shoot and kill a member of a rival gang who was talking with Washington on the front porch. He missed his intended target and shot Washington instead.

Stanley has been in federal custody since April 15, 2014, when he was arrested on gang-related narcotics trafficking charges. On May 5, 2015, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, 280 grams or more of cocaine base (‘crack’). Today, Judge Meyer imposed a concurrent 10-year sentence for that offense.

Judge Meyer also ordered Stanley to pay restitution of $12,908.87 to Washington’s family for funeral and related expenses.

The FBI Task Force includes members of the Hartford Police Department, East Hartford Police Department, Connecticut State Police, and Connecticut Department of Correction. This case was prosecuted by U.S. Attorney Durham, Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter S. Jongbloed, and New Haven State’s Attorney Patrick Griffin, who was cross-designated as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney in this matter.

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