Hartford Gang Member Sentenced to Six Years in Federal Prison for Trafficking Cocaine, Heroin

Nora R. Dannehy, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that VICTOR ESTEVES, also known as “Gadget,” 35, of Hillside Avenue, Hartford, was sentenced on Friday, October 16, by Senior United States District Judge Peter C. Dorsey in New Haven to 72 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for conspiring to possess with intent to distribute, and distributing, cocaine. ESTEVES pleaded guilty to the offense on August 31, 2009.

This matter stems from “Operation Solid Gold,” a joint law enforcement investigation headed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Northern Connecticut Violent Crimes Task Force. The year-long investigation included the use of court-authorized wiretaps, controlled purchases of cocaine and heroin, and physical surveillance. As a result of the investigation, 55 individuals were charged with various offenses related to the distribution of cocaine and heroin in and around Hartford.

According to court documents and statements made in court, ESTEVES was an admitted former member of the Almighty Latin King Nation (“Latin Kings”). Although ESTEVES claimed that he no longer actively participated in Latin King activities or attended Latin King meetings, the investigation revealed that ESTEVES used his affiliation with the Latin Kings to control the drug trade in the area of Broad, Arnold and Willard Streets in Hartford. Between June and September 2008, an individual working with law enforcement made five controlled purchases of cocaine and heroin from ESTEVES. Subsequent investigation revealed that ESTEVES supplied heroin and cocaine to a large network of other dealers.

ESTEVES has been detained since his arrest on March 20, 2009.

This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Northern Connecticut Violent Crimes Task Force, the Statewide Cooperative Crime Control Task Force of the Connecticut State Police and the Hartford Police Department, with assistance from the Statewide Organized Crime Investigative Task Force of the Connecticut State Police, Connecticut State Police, Troop H, and the Connecticut Department of Correction. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Brian P. Leaming and Geoffrey M. Stone.