October 28, 2015

Hartford Man Charged with Gang-Related Murder

United States Attorney Deirdre M. Daly and Chief State’s Attorney Kevin T. Kane today announced that ARTHU.S.ANLEY, also known as “Wiggs,” 26, has been indicted for the July 15, 2011 murder of Keith Washington, 23, of Windsor.

This matter stems from a joint law enforcement investigation headed by the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Violent Crimes Task Force into narcotics trafficking by members and associates of the Westhell and Team Grease street gangs and gang-related violent activity. The Hartford Police Department and Officers and Inspectors of the Cold Case Homicide Unit of the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney are participating in the investigation.

At approximately 9:28 p.m. on July 15, 2011, the Hartford Police Department received a report of shots fired in the vicinity of 67 Oakland Terrace in Hartford. Officers responding to the scene located an unconscious person lying on the front porch of the residence with an apparent gunshot wound to the head. The victim, who was subsequently identified as Keith Washington, was transported to the hospital where he succumbed to his injuries on July 17, 2011.

On October 27, 2015, a federal grand jury in New Haven returned an indictment charging STANLEY, an active member of the Westhell street gang, with engaging in a Violent Crime in Aid of Racketeering, namely the murder of Keith Washington. If convicted of the charge, STANLEY faces a maximum term of imprisonment of life, or death if the government seeks the death penalty in the matter.

STANLEY has been detained in federal custody since April 2014 and is awaiting sentencing on a crack cocaine conspiracy offense.

U.S. Attorney Daly stressed that an indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This ongoing investigation is being conducted by the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Violent Crimes Task Force, Hartford Police Department and Cold Case Homicide Unit of the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney. The FBI Task Force includes members of the Hartford Police Department, East Hartford Police Department, Connecticut State Police and Connecticut Department of Correction.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys John H. Durham and Peter S. Jongbloed, and Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney Patrick Griffin, who has been cross-designated as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney in this matter.