Bridgeport Men Involved in Gang-Related Narcotics Trafficking Sentenced to Prison

David B. Fein, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that two men involved in a violent narcotics trafficking ring in Bridgeport were sentenced earlier this week in New Haven federal court to lengthy prison terms.

On January 28, United States District Judge Janet Bond Arterton sentenced Stefan Winston, also known as “Cuda” and “Pooh,” 31, to 165 months of imprisonment and five years of supervised release. On January 29, Judge Arterton sentenced Alexis Ramos, also known as “Snake Rattle,” 31, to 100 months of imprisonment and four years of supervised release.

This matter stems from Operation Slim Fast, a joint law enforcement investigation that focused on two drug trafficking organizations, one that operated out of Bridgeport and one that operated out of Bridgeport, Puerto Rico, and Springfield, Massachusetts. In 2010, members of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Bridgeport Safe Streets Task Force initiated an investigation of narcotics trafficking activity in and around the Marina Village Housing Complex in Bridgeport that focused primarily on the Marina Village Bloods, a violent narcotics trafficking organization. Members of the Marina Village Bloods have been responsible for, or connected to, multiple shootings in Bridgeport.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Winston, Ramos, and others were members of the Sex, Money, Murder set of the Marina Village Bloods and sold large quantities of narcotics from an abandoned residence at 105/107 Johnson Street, which is located across from the street from the Marina Village Housing Complex. On multiple occasions, gang members were intercepted over court-authorized wiretaps discussing their narcotics trafficking activities. The wiretapped conversations further revealed that members of the Marina Village Bloods alternately referred to the Johnson Street residence as the “kitchen,” “trap,” or “white house.”

The investigation revealed that, in addition to narcotics trafficking, Winston was involved in the straw purchase of two firearms and also possessed and used firearms on a regular basis. At the time of his arrest on January 5, 2011, Winston possessed an assault rifle and a handgun, both of which were loaded.

On August 16, 2011, Winston pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin and 28 grams or more of cocaine base (“crack cocaine”). His criminal history includes multiple felony convictions, including convictions for unlawful possession of a firearm and armed robbery.

On August 14, 2012, Ramos pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine base. His criminal history includes multiple convictions for sale and possession of narcotics and possession of weapons.

Winston and Ramos have been detained since their arrests on January 5, 2011.

As a result of this investigation, 19 individuals have been charged in federal court with various narcotics and firearms related offenses, and law enforcement officers seized approximately four kilograms of cocaine, one kilogram of crack cocaine, a quantity of heroin, an SKS assault rifle, five handguns, and more than $150,000 in cash.

This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Bridgeport Safe Streets Task Force—which is composed of personnel from the FBI; the Bridgeport, Norwalk, and Trumbull Police Departments; with assistance from the United States Marshals Service; Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation; Drug Enforcement Administration; Connecticut State Police; and Hartford, Stratford, and Stamford Police Departments.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Tracy Dayton, Doug Morabito, and Jonathan Freimann.