Drug Sweep Results in Ten Arrests in Waterbury Area

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced the arrest of 10 men today on federal narcotics trafficking offenses.  The arrests are the result of a seven-month, joint investigation by the FBI, ATF and the Waterbury Police Department into a Waterbury drug ring that is alleged to have been distributing heroin and crack cocaine. 

As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, the investigation is part of a joint initiative by federal and state authorities, including the Waterbury State’s Attorney’s Office, targeting violent offenders and narcotics traffickers in Waterbury.  “The level of cooperation between state and federal prosecutors, the FBI, the Waterbury Police Department, and the ATF, has been extraordinary,” said U.S. Attorney Durham.

“This joint investigation is an example of how things are supposed to be done, and the results speak for themselves,” said Waterbury State’s Attorney, Maureen Platt.  Platt said that she, and state prosecutors from her office, expect to continue to work closely with federal prosecutors on this case, and others. 

Acting Waterbury Chief of Police Fernando C. Spagnolo confirmed that officers from his department and the Watertown Police Department, and agents from the FBI and the ATF, arrested the 10 men early Tuesday morning. “We also executed search warrants at five locations associated with members of the drug ring,” Spagnolo added.

The following men were arrested on federal criminal complaints and charged with conspiracy to distribute heroin and cocaine base:  CYRUS BRADFORD, 41, of Waterbury; LEE BROCKETT, 30, of Waterbury; TARELL THOMAS, 29, of Waterbury; ALEXANDER CALDERON, 22, of Oakville; LAVAL THOMAS, 31, of Waterbury; CAMERON WILSON, 21, of Waterbury; FELIX COLON, 20, of Waterbury; THOMAS “TJ” MORUZIN, 28, of New Fairfield; DEMAIN BROCKETT, 20, of Waterbury; and, JASON BROCKETT, 45, of Waterbury.

The defendants are charged with conspiracy to distribute a detectable amount of cocaine base ("crack") and heroin.  If convicted of the charge, they face a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years of imprisonment.

According to court documents and statements made in court, the investigation employed various investigative techniques, including purchases of drugs by confidential sources, seizures of drugs during motor vehicle stops, surveillance, and court-authorized wiretaps on cellular telephones utilized by LEE BROCKETT, ALEXANDER CALDERON, TARELL THOMAS, and CYRUS BRADFORD.  The wiretap phase of the investigation lasted from April to July 2018.

U.S. Attorney Durham stressed that a complaint is only a charge and 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 case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patrick F. Caruso and Natasha Freismuth.