Hartford Crack Dealer Eduardo Zayas Gets 5+ Years

Eduardo Zayas, also known as “Za,” a 38-year-old East Hartford man, is headed to federal prison for more than five years after being sentenced to 65 months for possession of crack cocaine and a firearm. On January 27, 2017, U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden handed down the sentence, which includes three years of supervised release, marking the end of a multi-year investigation into violent street-level drug operations in Hartford’s South End.

The takedown began in September 2014, when the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Violent Crimes Task Force and Hartford Police Department launched a sweeping probe into narcotics trafficking, gun running, and shootings linked to the gang Los Solidos. Wiretaps, controlled buys of heroin, crack, and firearms, and deep undercover work led to federal charges against nearly 30 individuals tied to the violent crew. Zayas emerged as a key player in the distribution network.

On May 15, 2015, Zayas was arrested in a parking lot during a hand-to-hand exchange with his drug supplier, who was carrying approximately 320 grams of crack cocaine. A search of a New Britain Avenue apartment connected to Zayas uncovered a .25 caliber handgun, four live rounds, 52 grams of crack, drug packaging materials, and $4,120 in cash—evidence that painted a clear picture of ongoing trafficking.

Zayas has been locked up since his federal arrest on June 15, 2015. He pleaded guilty on May 5, 2016, to one count of possession with intent to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine base, commonly known as crack. Prosecutors emphasized the danger posed by armed drug dealers operating in high-crime zones, urging a stiff sentence to deter further violence.

Judge Bolden also ordered the forfeiture of two vehicles—a 2005 Acura RL and a 2002 GMC Denali—along with the $4,120 seized during the 2015 raid. The move strips Zayas of assets believed to be tied to his criminal enterprise, a standard tool in dismantling drug networks. Law enforcement sources say such financial pressure is as critical as prison time in disrupting gang operations.

The case was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Gustafson and supported by multiple agencies, including the Hartford and East Hartford Police, Connecticut State Police, Department of Correction, U.S. Marshals, and CREST. It stems from Project Longevity, a federal-local initiative aimed at curbing gun violence. Notably, members of Los Solidos attended call-in meetings in April and August 2014, where they were warned against further bloodshed—warnings Zayas and others chose to ignore.