FBI New Haven Task Force Investigation Results in Crack and Oxycodone Charges against 19 Individuals

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Patricia M. Ferrick, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and New Haven Police Chief Anthony Campbell today announced that a grand jury in New Haven returned a 30-count indictment yesterday charging 19 individuals with federal narcotics offenses related to the distribution of crack cocaine and oxycodone in and around New Haven.

According to allegations made in court, in June 2017, the FBI’s New Haven Safe Streets/Gang Task Force initiated an investigation into a New Haven drug trafficking organization headed by Jermayne Butler.  The investigation, which included physical surveillance, 13 controlled purchases of narcotics, and court-authorized wiretaps on multiple phones, revealed that Butler and others were distributing crack cocaine and oxycodone in the New Haven area.

Charged in the indictment are:

JERMAYNE BUTLER, a.k.a. “Main,” “Main Live” and “Liver,” 36, of New Haven
TYRESE HARGROVE, a.k.a. “T.Y.,” 36, of New Haven
DEQUEISHA SLEDGE, a.k.a. “Queish” and “Shontay,” 35, of New Haven
TORRENCE GAMBLE, a.k.a. “Bones” and “Bone,” 44, of New Haven
RONNIE GORDON, a.k.a. “Pop,” 36, of New Haven
ANTHONY MCBRIDE, a.k.a. “Moto,” 49, of New Haven
JOEY FULLER, 28, of New Haven
MALCOLM NEWTON, a.k.a. “Biggie,” 23, of New Haven
MARQUIS PARKER, 25, of New Haven
MARVIN SPRUILL, a.k.a. “Marv,” 25, of West Haven
MILTON VEREEN, a.k.a. “M.D.,” 38, of New Haven
RASHAAN WOOLFOLK, a.k.a. “Booka,” 26, of West Haven
HUSAIN REDMOND, a.k.a. “Pullie,” 37, of West Haven
ROBERT THOMPSON, a.k.a. “Bobby D” and “Bobby Diesel,” 49, of New Haven
CHAUNCEY EVANS, a.k.a. “Chaos,” 45, of New Haven
CARNELL EDWARDS, 47, of Bridgeport
OSVALDO SAEZ, 30, of New Haven
ZARKEE SANDERS, 40, of Hamden

On February 6, 2018, investigators arrested all of the defendants with the exception of Tyrese Hargrove, Anthony McBride and Chauncy Evans, who were already incarcerated in state custody.  One defendant is still being sought.

In association with the arrests, investigators conducted court-authorized searches of seven properties in New Haven and Hamden and seized seven firearms, ammunition, approximately 100 grams of crack cocaine, and approximately $14,000 in cash.

The indictment charges Butler, Gamble and Sanders with conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, 280 grams or more of cocaine base (“crack”).  If convicted of this charge, the defendants face a minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life.

Hargrove, Sledge, Gordon, McBride, Fuller, Newton, Parker, Spruill, Redmond, Evans, Edwards and Saez are charged with conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, 28 grams or more of cocaine base.  If convicted of this charge, the defendants face a minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years.  Woolfook is charged with conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, a quantity of cocaine base, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.

Butler, Hargrove, Sledge, Spruill, Vereen and Thompson are charged with conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, oxycodone, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.

In addition, the indictment charges each of the defendants with one of more counts of possession and/or distribution of crack cocaine and/or oxycodone.

U.S. Attorney Durham noted that the investigation is ongoing, and some of the defendants may face additional charges related to the firearms that were seized at the time of their arrests.

U.S. Attorney Durham stressed that an indictment 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 matter is being investigated by the FBI’s New Haven Safe Streets/Gang Task Force, which includes members from the New Haven Police Department, Milford Police Department, West Haven Police Department and Connecticut Department of Correction.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patrick F. Caruso and David C. Nelson.