Hartford Man Guilty of Witness Tampering Offenses Related to 2010 Murder, Planning of Second Murder

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that a federal jury in Hartford today found DOMINIQUE MACK, also known as “Lil Sweets,” 26, of Hartford, guilty of conspiring to commit witness tampering by murdering one individual and planning to murder a second individual.  The trial before U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea began on April 11.

“Together with our law state and local enforcement partners, we are committed to using the full weight of federal law to prosecute those individuals most responsible for violence in our inner cities,” stated U.S. Attorney Daly.  “In an attempt to prevent his own apprehension, this defendant shot and killed Ian Francis.  He then plotted  to kill a second individual who he feared might be a witness against him.  This was a particularly difficult prosecution that was superbly investigated.  I commend the excellent work of our trial team, the FBI, the Northern Connecticut Violent Crimes Task Force, and the Hartford Police Department’s Major Crimes Division.”

According to the evidence at trial, on December 21, 2010, Ian Francis was shot multiple times while sitting in his vehicle on Sigourney Street in Hartford.  Francis succumbed to his injuries on January 15, 2011.  At the time, MACK, who had been charged as part of a multi-defendant federal drug conspiracy, was hiding out in an attempt to evade arrest.  On June 15, 2011, law enforcement arrested MACK at an apartment on Vine Street in Hartford.  A search of the apartment revealed a Ruger 9 millimeter semi-automatic pistol, which was subsequently determined to be the firearm that was used to murder Francis.

The investigation revealed that MACK conspired with Keronn Miller and others to murder Francis to prevent Francis from providing information to law enforcement about MACK’s whereabouts.  Miller had lured Francis to the location on Sigourney Street knowing that the plan was to murder Francis when he arrived there.

On December 4, 2014, Miller, also known as “Fresh,” 25, of Hartford, pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting in the murder of Francis.  He awaits sentencing.

Shortly after Miller’s guilty plea, the government received information about a plot to kill a witness for MACK’s upcoming trial.  Tyquan Lucien, also known as “TQ” and “Frogger,” who had been arrested as part of this investigation and was incarcerated with MACK at a detention facility in Rhode Island, had told another inmate about a plan by Lucien and MACK to kill an individual who had been identified as a government witness in the case against Miller.  On February 13, 2015, an undercover officer who was posing as someone who might be able to commit the murder met with Lucien in the visiting area of the detention facility.  During the meeting, Lucien ordered the killing of the potential government witness and others, making throat-slashing motions to make his intent clear.  Three days later, Lucien met with MACK and relayed to him the facts of the visit.

The jury found MACK guilty of two counts of conspiracy to commit witness tampering by committing first degree murder, an offense that carries a mandatory lifetime term of imprisonment.  The jury also found MACK guilty of two counts of possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.

The jury found MACK not guilty of two counts of tampering with a witness.

Judge Shea scheduled sentencing for July 25, 2016.

 On August 24, 2015, Lucien pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit witness tampering by first degree murder.  He awaits sentencing.

This matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Northern Connecticut Violent Crimes and Gang Task Force and the Hartford Police Department’s Major Crimes Division.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian Leaming and Jennifer Laraia.