West Haven Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Role in New Haven Drug Trafficking Organization
| U.S. Attorney’s Office January 07, 2009 |
Nora R. Dannehy, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that ALEXY LAUREANO, 28, of Claudia Drive, West Haven, was sentenced yesterday, January 6, by Senior United States District Judge Peter C. Dorsey in New Haven to 180 months of imprisonment, followed by eight years of supervised release, for his participation in a New Haven-area narcotics distribution organization. On June 20, 2008, LAUREANO pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
According to documents filed with the court and statements made in court, the charges against LAUREANO stem from a 10-month investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Safe Streets Gang Task Force into a New Haven-area narcotics trafficking organization headed by Nelson Rodriguez, also known as “Nellie Rock.” The investigation – which included the use of confidential informants, controlled purchases of drugs and court-authorized telephone wiretaps – revealed that LAUREANO was second-in-command of the organization and that he participated in the distribution of drugs and the handling of substantial quantities of drug proceeds.
During the course of the investigation, LAUREANO was intercepted participating in telephone conversations related to narcotics trafficking. The investigation also revealed that LAUREANO was known to be the “muscle” for Nelson Rodriguez’s organization. In one call intercepted during the investigation, Nelson Rodriguez and LAUREANO discussed a suspicious vehicle that had been parked in the area for nearly an hour and boasted of their willingness to use firearms. LAUREANO, who apparently was viewing the suspicious vehicle from an apartment window, stated “I would’ve let one off from up here, the rest would’ve fell.”
On another occasion, LAUREANO boasted to an individual that if he were to observe a law enforcement surveillance vehicle following him, he would “bless it,” or shoot at it.
The wiretap investigation was terminated, and the targets arrested, after Rodriguez and members of his crew initiated a shooting in West Haven. LAUREANO had knowledge that the incident was about to take place, and attempted to participate.
On January 4, 2008, Rodriguez and two of his associates, while traveling together in a vehicle, encountered an individual who had stolen drug money from Ernesto Martinez, also known as “Poopie,” a member of Rodriguez’s crew. Rodriguez and his associates pursued the individual’s vehicle through New Haven and into West Haven. In the course of the pursuit, a call between Rodriguez and LAUREANO was intercepted in which Rodriguez informed LAUREANO of the pursuit, telling him: “Well, I’m following that . . . [individual] that got Poopie right quick.” LAUREANO responded, “All right, give me a second. I’ll be right with you.”
Other conversations intercepted moments later revealed that Rodriguez was, in fact, continuing to follow the male who had robbed Martinez and was providing LAUREANO with their West Haven location, which was near LAUREANO’s residence. Before LAUREANO could join Rodriguez in the pursuit, Rodriguez and his other associates cornered the individual and shot him. West Haven Police confirmed that a shooting incident occurred in the area of West Haven described in the intercepts. However, the victim of the shooting refused to cooperate with authorities.
On January 23, 2008, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging LAUREANO, Rodriguez, Martinez and five other individuals with various cocaine, crack and heroin distribution charges. Each of the defendants has pleaded guilty. Rodriguez and Martinez await sentencing.
This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and several local police departments that participate in the Safe Streets Gang Task Force. The case is being prosecuted by Patrick F. Caruso of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.