Four men from Waterbury—ALEX REYES, also known as “A.J.,” 24; JULIAN GOODMAN, 24; DOUGLAS LARA, also known as “Spaz,” 24; and RALPH ERNEST, 19—are facing federal charges in a sweeping crackdown on drug and gun crimes in the city. A federal grand jury in Hartford returned multiple indictments yesterday, charging the men with offenses tied to heroin and fentanyl distribution, illegal firearm possession, and using guns to further drug trafficking.
REYES and GOODMAN are named in a three-count indictment alleging conspiracy to possess and distribute heroin and fentanyl. Reyes, who authorities say has prior felony convictions for drug trafficking and assault, is additionally charged with illegal firearm possession and using a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. Prosecutors allege Reyes was in possession of a loaded 9mm semi-automatic pistol on August 26, 2021. If convicted, Reyes faces a mandatory minimum of five years and up to life in prison. GOODMAN faces a maximum of 20 years behind bars.
DOUGLAS LARA is charged in a separate two-count indictment with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number. According to the indictment, Lara—already a multiple-time felony offender—was in possession of a loaded 9mm handgun with its serial number removed on May 6, 2021. Each count carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.
RALPH ERNEST, 19, is also named in a two-count indictment, accused of possession with intent to distribute heroin and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Authorities allege that on January 19, 2021, ERNEST possessed a distribution-level quantity of heroin along with a loaded 9mm handgun. Conviction on these counts brings a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and a maximum of life imprisonment.
All four defendants were initially charged with related state offenses before their cases were adopted for federal prosecution. They remain in state custody as they await arraignment on the federal charges. Acting U.S. Attorney Leonard C Boyle emphasized that an indictment is not evidence of guilt, and each defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The investigation was led by the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Connecticut State Police, Waterbury Police Department, Wolcott Police Department, and the Connecticut Department of Correction. Prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys John T. Pierpont, Jr., Natasha M. Freismuth, and Konstantin Lantsman. The cases fall under Project Safe Neighborhoods, the DOJ’s national initiative targeting violent crime through coordinated law enforcement and community intervention strategies.
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Key Facts
- State: Connecticut
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Weapons|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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