Waterbury Gang Members Sentenced to Life for Murder and Racketeering

Bridgeport, CT – A federal jury in Bridgeport has found two members of the violent Waterbury gang, GABRIEL PULLIAM, 30, also known as “G,” and JULIAN SCOTT, 25, also known as “Ju Sav,” guilty of offenses related to their participation in the 960 gang.

Pulliam and Scott were found guilty of conspiracy to engage in a pattern of racketeering activity, murder in violation of the Violent Crimes in Aid of Racketeering (“VCAR”) statute, causing death through the use of a firearm and in relation to a crime of violence, attempted murder and assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering, and carrying and using a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.

Pulliam was also found guilty of conspiracy to possess, with intent to distribute, and to distribute, controlled substances. The jury’s verdict brings to 16 the number of convictions obtained in this case, which includes the convictions of 14 other members and associates of the 960 gang.

On May 10, 2024, U.S. Attorney Vanessa Roberts Avery announced the guilty verdicts, joined by Maureen T. Platt, State’s Attorney for the Waterbury Judicial District; Robert Fuller, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Boston Field Division; and Waterbury Police Chief Fernando C. Spagnolo.

The investigation, which began in 2021, was led by the FBI, ATF, and Waterbury Police in an effort to address drug trafficking and related violence in Waterbury. The probe led to a 36-count indictment charging 960 members Pulliam, Scott, and 14 other alleged gang members with racketeering, narcotics trafficking, firearm possession, murder, attempted murder and assault, and obstruction of justice offenses.

The evidence presented during the five-week trial revealed that on October 6, 2018, Scott and other gang members attempted to murder individuals believed to be members of a rival gang, resulting in gunshot wounds to an individual. On October 11, 2018, Pulliam, Scott, and other gang members participated in a drive-by shooting that resulted in the death of an innocent bystander, 30-year-old Fransua Guzman, and the paralysis of a second victim.

At sentencing, which is not scheduled, Pulliam and Scott face a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment. The convictions in this case are the result of a collaborative effort between local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, ATF, U.S. Marshals Service, the Connecticut Forensic Science Laboratory, the DEA Laboratory, and the Waterbury Police Department.

The investigation and prosecution of the 960 gang have had a significant impact on the violence being perpetrated in Waterbury, according to U.S. Attorney Avery. “This type of gang-related activity, coordinated crimes, and the destruction they cause will not be tolerated by law enforcement, and we will continue to bring all of our resources to bear and combat them,” she said.

The U.S. Attorney’s office credits the partnership between local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies for the success of the investigation and prosecution. “The 14 pleas and convictions obtained in this case are the result of years of tireless efforts by law enforcement to dismantle the 960 gang and bring those responsible for this violence to justice,” said Avery.

The guilty verdicts bring to a total of 16 convictions obtained in this case, which has resulted in the removal of numerous violent individuals from the community and made Waterbury safer. The investigation and prosecution of the 960 gang serve as a reminder that law enforcement will continue to work together to combat gang-related violence and bring those responsible to justice.