East Windsor Man Sentenced to More Than 5 Years in Prison for Trafficking Heroin

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JHOVANY VALDES, 41, of East Windsor, was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge Janet C. Hall in New Haven to 63 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release, for trafficking heroin.

According to court documents and statements made in court, this matter stems from a joint law enforcement investigation headed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Northern Connecticut Violent Crimes Task Force and the Hartford Police Department’s Vice and Narcotics Division targeting gang violence and narcotics trafficking in Hartford’s Parkville neighborhood, and related overdoses.  The investigation specifically targeted criminal activity being committed by members and associates of the Orange Street Killas (OSK), which operated principally in the area of Orange, Cherry and Arbor Streets.  The investigation followed a series of reports of shots fired in the area, and a homicide that was committed on Cherry Street in October 2015.  The prosecution was built on court-authorized wiretaps, controlled purchases of narcotics and physical and video surveillance, all of which revealed that OSK members acquired heroin and crack cocaine and then sold the narcotics on the streets of Hartford.

The investigation revealed that VALDES supplied an OSK member with thousands of bags of heroin for further distribution.

On February 10, 2017, investigators arrested VALDES and several of his codefendants.  On that date, a search of VALDES’ East Windsor residence revealed approximately 155 grams of heroin mixed with fentanyl, most of which was packaged in approximately 2,000 bags, as well as numerous items used to process and package heroin, including a kilogram press.  The search also revealed three loaded handguns, one of which had been reported stolen.

VALDES has been detained since his arrest.  On August 29, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin.

Sixteen individuals were charged as a result of the investigation.

This matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Northern Connecticut Violent Crimes Task Force and the Hartford Police Department.  The Task Force includes members of the Hartford Police Department, East Hartford Police Department, Connecticut State Police and Connecticut Department of Correction.  The Hartford Police Department’s Vice and Narcotics Division and Shooting Task Force have provided valuable assistance to the investigation.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian P. Leaming.