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“J-Hop” Traylor Gets 14 Years for Bridgeport Gang Violence
BRIDGEPORT, CT – Jamar Traylor, 23, known on the streets as “J-Hop,” will spend the next 168 months in federal prison following a sentencing today by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley. Traylor, a member of the notorious Original North End (O.N.E.) gang, received the sentence for offenses tied to a pattern of racketeering activity, including a conspiracy to commit murder and a string of violent crimes plaguing Bridgeport.
The case, a joint effort between the FBI, ATF, DEA, U.S. Marshals, Bridgeport Police, and state authorities, peeled back layers of brutality committed by O.N.E. members. Court documents reveal the gang was deeply involved in narcotics trafficking, car theft, and targeted violence against rival gangs like the East End, East Side, and PT Barnum groups. The investigation began years ago, uncovering a network of bloodshed and criminal enterprise operating within the city.
The most chilling evidence presented in court detailed a botched hit planned in August 2018. Traylor and other O.N.E. members stole a Jeep Grand Cherokee from Newburgh, New York, intending to use it to ambush members of the East End gang at a Stratford Avenue deli. When that plan failed, the gang instead used the stolen vehicle to carry out a drive-by shooting on August 13, 2018, tragically killing Len Smith, 25, whom they mistakenly believed to be a rival gang member. Smith’s female companion was also seriously wounded in the attack. In a desperate attempt to cover their tracks, the gang burned the stolen Jeep at Indian Wells State Park in Shelton.
The violence didn’t stop there. On October 22, 2018, Traylor and his associates robbed a marijuana dealer, adding another layer to their criminal conduct. The bust that finally brought Traylor down came on June 1, 2021, when Bridgeport Police, executing a search warrant at his residence, uncovered a frightening arsenal: five Glock handguns, 14 gun magazines (including a high-capacity 50-round drum), speed loaders, laser attachments, body armor, bags of marijuana, and drug packaging materials. Traylor was already on state probation for a prior weapons conviction at the time of his arrest.
Traylor pleaded guilty on June 10, 2022, to conspiring to engage in a pattern of racketeering activity. U.S. Attorney Vanessa Roberts Avery, Fairfield State’s Attorney Joseph T. Corradino, Bridgeport Police Chief Roderick Porter, and other federal and local officials announced the sentencing, emphasizing the collaborative effort to dismantle violent gangs in Connecticut. This case is part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods, Project Longevity, and Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) programs.
“This sentence sends a clear message,” stated a source close to the investigation. “We will relentlessly pursue those who terrorize our communities and bring them to justice. The O.N.E. gang brought nothing but violence and fear to Bridgeport, and this is a significant step in making our city safer.” The investigation remains ongoing, with authorities continuing to target remaining members of the O.N.E. and other violent gangs operating in the area.
Key Facts
- State: Connecticut
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Organized Crime|Violent Crime|Weapons
- Source: Official Source ↗
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