HERTFORD, CONN – A street gang war in Hartford’s Parkville neighborhood has led to the arrest of 16 individuals, including Ruben Torres, accused of heroin trafficking and firearm offenses.
According to a 31-count indictment, unsealed yesterday, Torres, 25, and members of the Orange Street Killas (OSK) gang sold heroin and crack cocaine on the streets of Hartford. The indictment, returned by a grand jury in February 2017, also charges four defendants with firearm and robbery offenses.
The investigation, dubbed "Operation Stamp Out," was a joint effort between the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Violent Crimes Task Force and the Hartford Police Department’s Vice and Narcotics Division. The probe was sparked by a series of reports of shots fired in the area and a homicide on Cherry Street in October 2015.
During the investigation, authorities used court-authorized wiretaps, controlled purchases of narcotics, and physical and video surveillance to gather evidence. The probe revealed that Torres and other OSK members acquired heroin and crack cocaine from other gang members and sold them on the streets.
On October 8, 2016, Hartford’s ShotSpotter system detected multiple shots fired in the area of 7-9 Cherry Street. Police responded and located a male victim in the backyard of 51 Orange Street with three gunshot wounds to his legs. The indictment charges four defendants with firearm and robbery offenses related to the shooting.
U.S. Attorney Deirdre M. Daly said, "Gang-related drug trafficking continues to plague our inner cities. A relatively small number of offenders are responsible for the vast amount of the gun violence that traumatizes our neighborhoods."
The following individuals have been charged in the indictment:
- Ruben Torres, a.k.a. "Rube," "Ru," and "T," 25, of Hartford
- Antwane Williams-Bey, a.k.a. "Buck," 26, of East Windsor
- Michael Chapman, a.k.a. "Nice" and "Mizzo," 25, of New Britain
- Charles Turner, a.k.a. "Rell" and "CJ," 26, of Hartford
- Tayrence Willis, a.k.a. "T" and "T-Franklin," 24, of Hartford
- Tyrryq Rodriguez, a.k.a. "Ty," "Little Ty" and "Tye Bangs," 19, of Hartford
- Eric Smith, a.k.a. "Hood," 29, of Hartford
- Adrian Cruz, a.k.a. "Ray," 28, of Hartford
- Brendan Salmon, a.k.a. "One Eye," 23, of Hartford
- Noel Montanez, 18, of Hartford
- Jhovany Valdes, 40, of East Windsor
- Willie Deas, a.k.a. "Debo" and "Flee," 21, of Hartford
- Marcus Gary, 33, of South Windsor
- Yolanda Lozada, a.k.a. "Sexy," 38, of East Hartford
- Jamal Johnson, 29, of Hartford
- Buell French, 36, of Hartford
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- Orlando Tirado, Heroin Trafficking, CT 2023 · Rhode Island
- Roman Pantojas, Heroin-for-Firearms Trafficking, CT 2014 · Connecticut
- Victor Rivera, Heroin Trafficking, CT 2024 · Washington
- Lorenzo Malcolm, Heroin Trafficking, CT 2023 · Connecticut
Key Facts
- State: Connecticut
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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