Trevor Murphy, Murder, Connecticut 2011

Trevor Murphy Pleads Guilty to Murder, Robbery, and Firearm Charges

A devastating crime has shaken the community in Connecticut. Trevor Murphy, also known as Snookie, 28, of West Haven, pleaded guilty to federal robbery and firearm charges in connection with the murder of Joseph Zargo on December 23, 2011.

The investigation, led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), revealed that Murphy was a member of the Red Side Guerilla Brims (RSGB), a sect of the Bloods street gang operating in New Haven from 2011 to 2015.

According to court documents, Murphy ordered a quantity of ecstasy from Zargo as part of a plan to rob him of drugs and cash. The tragic events unfolded on Houston Street in New Haven just after midnight on December 23, 2011, when Murphy took ecstasy pills from Zargo and then pulled out a firearm, shooting Zargo once in the chest. Zargo died later that morning.

Murphy pleaded guilty to one count of interference with commerce by robbery, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, and one count of using a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, an offense that carries a consecutive term of imprisonment of at least 10 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life.

Under the terms of a binding plea agreement, the parties have agreed that a term of imprisonment of 360 months is an appropriate sentence in this case. Chief Judge Janet C. Hall scheduled sentencing for May 3, 2017.

The investigation was conducted by the ATF, New Haven Police Department, Connecticut Department of Correction, Connecticut State Police, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, and Hamden Police Department. The New Haven State’s Attorney’s Office provided critical assistance in the investigation.

The Connecticut State Crime Laboratory played a crucial role in the investigation by utilizing the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) to analyze ballistics evidence.