Indictments Charge 61 Defendants with New Haven-"Area Narcotics Trafficking and Firearm Offenses

BOSTON, MA - A federal grand jury sitting in New Haven has returned three indictments charging 61 individuals with various offenses related to the distribution of cocaine, crack cocaine and heroin, and the unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition, in and around New Haven. The indictments were unsealed today after 32 of the defendants were arrested. Fourteen defendants were already in custody, and 15 are still being sought by law enforcement. These indictments stem from "Operation Bloodline," a joint law enforcement investigation headed by the DEA New Haven Task Force, targeting narcotics trafficking and gang violence in New Havens Dwight/Chapel and Fair Haven sections. The year-long investigation included the use of courtauthorized wiretaps, controlled purchases of crack cocaine, execution of search warrants, seizures of narcotics and firearms and extensive physical surveillance. According to statements made in court, in the spring of 2011, the DEA Task Force, in conjunction with the New Haven Police Department and the Hamden Police Department, evaluated crime statistics in New Haven and determined that the Dwight/Chapel neighborhood, known as "the Tre," was one of the sections of the city with the highest number of violent crimes. Investigators also developed information that there was a large presence of Bloods street gang members in that neighborhood, and much of the violence there stemmed from gangrelated drug trafficking. In association with todays arrests, law enforcement officers seized five firearms, quantities of crack cocaine and heroin, and approximately $50,000 in cash. On May 15, 2012, the grand jury returned an indictment charging the following 44 individuals with various narcotics offenses related to the trafficking of cocaine, crack cocaine and heroin primarily in the Dwight/Chapel area of New Haven: KEVIN WILSON, a.k.a. "Nature" and "Nate," 27, of New Haven, RICHARD ANDERSON, a.k.a. "Mayut" and "Porter," 25 of New Haven, LYNWOOD BACOTE, a.k.a. "Max," 32, of New Haven, BRAD BRANNIC, a.k.a. "Cracks," 29, of New Haven PATRICK BATCHELOR, a.k.a. "Diddy," 29, of New Haven, TOMMY BATTLE, a.k.a. "Twin," 32, of New Haven JEFFREY BENTON, a.k.a. "Fresh," 27, of New Haven, CHOLOE BRIGHT, a.k.a. "ChiChi" and "Chello," 27, of New Haven, EZEL BUCHANAN, a.k.a. "EZ," 33, of New Haven, PHILIP BRYANT, a.k.a. "Phat Phil" and "Fizzy," 25, of New Haven RAYMOND CARSON, a.k.a. "Dirt," 37, of New Haven, VINCENT CLARK, a.k.a. "NuNu" and "Duke," 30, of New Haven, FREDRICK COX, a.k.a. "Boot," 21, of New Haven, FREDRICK COX, SR., a.k.a. "BamaLama," 41, of New Haven, DARRELL DAVIS, a.k.a. "Baller," 33, of New Haven, JOHNNY DE LOS SANTOS, a.k.a. "NaNa," 27, of the Bronx, N.Y., JOSE DEJESUS, a.k.a. "Flaco," 28, of New Haven, JOSHUWA DIAZ, a.k.a. "Fot," 21, of New Haven, ERIC DURANT, a.k.a. "58," 39, of New Haven, DANIEL EVANS, a.k.a. "DNice," 30, of New Haven, GILBERT GALAN, JR., a.k.a. "G" and "Skittles," 30, of New Haven, PIERRE GALAN, a.k.a. "PLO," 27, of New Haven, JERMAINE GALBERTH, a.k.a. "Maine," 26, of New Haven, CARL HAILEY, a.k.a. "Squirt," 47, of New Haven, WILLIAM HINES, a.k.a. "Gunz," 28, of New Haven EMORY JAMES, a.k.a. "Emmo," 40, of New Haven, LAMAR JONES, a.k.a. "Cream," 28, of New Haven, COREY MADDOX, a.k.a. "CL," 35, of New Haven, JAMES MOORE, a.k.a. "Coolie D," 32, of New Haven, JESUS MORALES, a.k.a. "Cano," 40, of New Haven, RICKY NEWTON, a.k.a. "Sup," 28, of New Haven, CHRISTINA PALLUOTO, 27, of New Haven, AMAURY PDILLA, a.k.a. "Audi," of the Bronx, N.Y., QUIYON REED, a.k.a. "Gutter," 30, of New Haven, ROY REID, a.k.a. "Jamma," 24, of New Haven, NELSON RIOS, a.k.a. "Pito," 35, of New Haven, MICHAEL SANTANA, 26, of Hamden, ROBERT SANTOS, a.k.a. "Scoot," 30, of New Haven, ALEXIS SUTTON, 21, of New Haven, JOSE TORRES, a.k.a. "Lethal," 28, of West Haven, JUAN VARGAS, a.k.a. "Juan Chiefy," 25, of New Haven, JACQUELINE VALENTINE, 22, of New Haven, TYRESE WHITE, a.k.a. "Ears," 36, of New Haven, and MARCUS WYLIE, a.k.a. "Wally Don" 22, of New Haven. The indictment also charges WILSON and PIERRE GALAN with unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and WILSON with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a narcotics trafficking felony. GILBERT GALAN, Jr. is also charged with unlawful possession of ammunition by a convicted felon. The grand jury returned a separate indictment charging the following nine individuals with various offenses related to the distribution of cocaine and crack cocaine, also in the Dwight/Chapel area of New Haven: JAMEEL WILKES, a.k.a. "Biggs," 33, of New Haven, RONALD BIDON, a.k.a. "Kiki," 28, of New Haven, MARK FULLER, 48, of New Haven, JOSE JIMENEZ, a.k.a. "Vincent Mescrea," 44, of New Haven, KALIF KIERCE, a.k.a. "Leaf Buck," 24, of New Haven, JOSE NEGRON, a.k.a. "Bebe," 33, of New Haven, KEVIN THOMPSON, 34, of New Haven, CARLOS TORRESCORPES, a.k.a. "Papo," 39, of New Haven, and EDWARD WATERS, a.k.a. "Trigger Tre" 23 of West Haven. The grand jury also returned an indictment charging the following eight individuals with offenses relating to the trafficking of cocaine and crack cocaine, predominantly in Fair Haven: JAMES BOWMAN, a.k.a. "JimmyJam," 33, of New Haven, EARL BANKS, a.k.a. "E.J.," of 21, of New Haven, THOMAS CARR, a.k.a. "Tommy Love," 24, of New Haven, THOMAS CROCKER, a.k.a. "Stuffy," 26, of New Haven, LEWIS FREEMAN, a.k.a. "Free," 30, of New Haven, DEION MANUEL, a.k.a. "Brother D," 26, of New Haven, TIFFANY MARTINEZ, 23, of New Haven, and DAVID THOMAS, 28, of New Haven If convicted, the substantial majority of the defendants in these cases face a minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years, a maximum term of life, and fines of up to $10 million. Due to having incurred prior narcotics trafficking convictions, a number of defendants face increased penalties. U.S. Attorney Fein stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. This matter is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administrations New Haven Task Force, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the United States Marshals Service, and the New Haven, Hamden, West Haven, North Haven, Branford, Ansonia and Meriden Police Departments. The Connecticut State Police, the Connecticut Department of Correction, Parole and Community Services and the Milford, Hartford, New Britain and Stratford Police Departments have provided assistance to the investigation