Hartford Man Sentenced to More Than 7 Years in Federal Prison for Distributing Cocaine and Crack

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JOSE GONZALEZ, also known as “Jo Jo,” 39, of Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford to 87 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for distributing narcotics.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on eight occasions in late 2015, GONZALEZ sold crack cocaine and/or powder cocaine to an individual working with law enforcement.  In total, GONZALEZ sold or possessed with intent to sell approximately 78 grams of crack cocaine and approximately 350 grams of cocaine.

GONZALEZ has been detained since his arrest on December 11, 2015.  On April 20, 2016, he pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of cocaine base (“crack”).

GONZALEZ has an extensive criminal history.  On August 27, 1997, he was sentenced in U.S. District Court in New Haven to 135 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for committing a violent crime in aid of racketeering.  The conviction stemmed from GONZALEZ’s murder of 16-year-old George Hall in a gang-ordered drive-by shooting in Hartford on November 25, 1993.  At the time, GONZALEZ, a 16-year-old soldier in Los Solidos, was targeting members of the rival Latin Kings gang.  One of his shots struck and killed Hall, who was not affiliated with any gang.

GONZALEZ was released from prison in October 2005.

In April 2007, GONZALEZ was found in violation of multiple conditions of his supervised release, including that he report regularly to his probation officer and not associate with any persons engaged in criminal activity, or any persons associated with the Los Solidos organization.  He was sentenced to an additional 24 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release.

In September 2009, members of the Hartford Police Department executed a search warrant at GONZALEZ’s residence and seized a.45 caliber pistol and several rounds of ammunition.  Police also seized a photograph of GONZALEZ with members of Los Solidos. GONZALEZ claimed that he possessed the firearm for protection.

In April 2010, GONZALEZ was sentenced in New Haven federal court to five years of imprisonment for possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon, and a consecutive 12-month sentence for violating his supervised release.

GONZALEZ was released from federal prison in January 2014.  On October 18, 2014, he was arrested on state charges for carrying a dangerous weapon and, on December 10, 2014, he was placed on three years of probation.

This matter was investigated by the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Violent Crimes Task Force and the Hartford Police Department.  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. Attorney Michael J. Gustafson.