Home Boston Press Releases 2009 Defendant Arrested by Safe Streets Gang Task Force Sentenced to an 11-Year Term of Imprisonment
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Defendant Arrested by Safe Streets Gang Task Force Sentenced to an 11-Year Term of Imprisonment

U.S. Attorney’s Office November 20, 2009
  • District of New Hampshire (603) 225-1552

CONCORD, NH—United States Attorney John P. Kacavas today announced that Jayson Galeano, age 23, of New York, New York, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Joseph Laplante to an 11-year term of imprisonment for his involvement in the distribution of cocaine, crack cocaine, and heroin in Manchester, New Hampshire.

Galeano and 15 others were arrested on January 15, 2009, by members of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Safe Streets Gang Task Force. The Task Force conducted the arrests after a lengthy investigation which targeted members of the Bloods street gang involved in the distribution of cocaine, crack cocaine and heroin in Manchester, New Hampshire. During the course of the investigation, law enforcement discovered the existence of a trend involving individuals (including members of the Bloods street gang) from New York who transplanted to New Hampshire for the purpose of engaging in street level distribution of cocaine, crack cocaine, and heroin. The transplants were based on the fact that the profit margin for the distribution of controlled substances purchased in New York and distributed in New Hampshire was substantial.

Galeano arrived in Manchester from New York in October, 2008. While in Manchester, Galeano and those associated with him engaged in the distribution of cocaine, crack, and heroin from 285 Concord Street, 295 Amherst Street, 371 Manchester Street, and 323 Hanover Street. After law enforcement engaged in numerous controlled purchases of narcotics from the residences, Galeano and his associates were arrested. Galeano was thereafter charged in a 16 count indictment with engaging in a conspiracy to distribute cocaine, cocaine base (“crack”), and heroin, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 846, distribution of cocaine, cocaine base (“crack”), and heroin, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841(a)(1), and aiding and abetting the distribution of cocaine base (“crack”), in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2.

During the course of the sentencing hearing, U.S. District Court Judge Laplante stated that the sentence was based, in part, upon Galeano’s relocation from New York to New Hampshire for the purpose of engaging in illegal conduct. The court determined that such conduct had a significant destabilizing effect upon the community and neighborhoods within Manchester.

U.S. Attorney Kacavas applauded the Court’s assessment and the successful outcome of the prosecution stating, “Law enforcement have long labored to deter the tide of drug dealing within the City of Manchester. Their efforts have been impacted greatly by the significance of gang violence and the alarming trend of transplants entering New Hampshire from other states, including New York, in order to deal drugs and associate with gang members. The Court’s sentence today should serve to send a strong message that drug dealing in New Hampshire will not be tolerated and those relocating to our State in search of a market for their illicit wares will pay a heavy price for having done so.”

The Safe Streets Gang Task Force initiative, part of the FBI's Violent Crimes and Major Offenders Program, was created to encourage coordinated crime fighting efforts among FBI field offices and our local law enforcement partners. The mission of the Safe Streets Gang Task Force is to effectively utilize task forces to investigate, locate, arrest, and prosecute subjects for serious federal and state crimes. These would include drug and weapons violations, armed robbery, bank robbery, kidnapping, and gang and drug-related violence. The successful blending of local and federal law enforcement resources and manpower have resulted in a well-coordinated investigative and prosecutive approach to convict and incarcerate dangerous offenders. Nationally, over 140 Safe Streets Gang Task Forces are currently in existence. The U.S. Attorney’s Office received official approval of the formation of a Safe Streets Gang Task Force as part of the District of New Hampshire’s Project Safe Neighborhoods/Operation G.R.I.P. program in November 2007. The Safe Streets Gang Task Force is jointly funded by the FBI and the New England High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Terry L. Ollila.

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