BRIDGEPORT, Conn. — In a major blow to the city’s violent gang scene, Travon Jones, also known as ‘Budda,’ 22, has been sentenced to 270 months of imprisonment for his involvement in a violent Bridgeport street gang and his role in the murder and attempted murder of rival gang members.
According to court documents, statements made in court, and the evidence presented during a month-long trial, Jones was a member of the ‘East End gang,’ which began as a local street gang based in the East End of Bridgeport. The gang has been aligned with other groups, including the PT Barnum Gang, the East Side gang, and 150, a geographic gang based on the West Side of Bridgeport.
The East End gang was involved in narcotics trafficking, murder, and other acts of violence. They distributed heroin, crack cocaine, marijuana, and Percocet pills, used and shared firearms, and committed at least six murders and other acts of violence against rival gang members and other individuals.
The investigation, which was conducted by the FBI, ATF, DEA, U.S. Marshals Service, and Bridgeport Police, began shortly after East End members shot and killed Myreke Kenion and shot and attempted to kill D’Andre Brown, both members and associates of the GHB/Hotz gang, on January 26, 2020.
Jones and other East End members celebrated their criminal conduct on social media websites such as Facebook and YouTube, and committed acts of intimidation and made threats to deter potential witnesses to their crimes and to protect gang members and associates from detection and prosecution by law enforcement authorities.
On July 12, 2019, Jones and fellow East End member Tyrone Moore shot and killed Sean Warren, also known as ‘Kujoe,’ a member and associate of the O.N.E. gang. In addition, on October 17, 2019, Jones shot and attempted to kill Joshua Gilbert, also a member and associate of the O.N.E. gang.
Jones initially pleaded guilty on August 29, 2022, but Judge Victor A. Bolden subsequently granted his motion to withdraw his guilty plea. On December 5, 2023, a jury found Jones and three associates guilty of conspiring to engage in a pattern of racketeering activity. Jones has been detained since October 17, 2019.
Tyrone Moore pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 250 months of imprisonment on June 26, 2023. This investigation has also led to the convictions of approximately 47 members and associates of the East End, O.N.E., and GHB/Hotz gangs for federal offenses, including eight murders and approximately 20 attempted murders.
Defendant: Travon Jones
Criminal Charges: Conspiring to engage in a pattern of racketeering activity
City and State: Bridgeport, Connecticut
Exact Date: December 5, 2023
Sentence: 270 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release
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Key Facts
- State: Connecticut
- Category: Violent Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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