Willamantic Man Involved in Hartford-Area Drug Trafficking Sentenced to Federal Prison

The United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut announced that BRANDON JONES, also known as “City,” 24, of Willimantic, was sentenced today by Senior United States District Judge Ellen Bree Burns in New Haven to 20 months of imprisonment, followed by two years of supervised release, for conspiring to distribute marijuana and other drugs in Hartford.

This matter stems from “Operation Northern Strike,” a 15-month joint law enforcement investigation targeting alleged members and associates of geographically-based street gangs engaging in criminal activity in Hartford’s Upper Albany and Northeast neighborhoods. The investigation included the use of court-authorized wiretaps on multiple telephones, controlled purchases of narcotics and physical surveillance. As a result of the investigation, 35 individuals were charged with various federal drug and firearms violations.

According to court documents and statements made in court, JONES was intercepted during the course of the wiretap investigation engaging in extensive drug-related conversations with another member of the conspiracy. Investigators intercepted calls during which JONES and an associate discussed, among other things, where they could obtain marijuana, the quantity of marijuana they could obtain, the price they would buy it at, selling marijuana to customers and collecting money from customers. JONES and others based their drug trafficking activities our of 133-135 Mansfield Street in Hartford.

Investigators also intercepted calls that revealed that JONES and his associates possessed firearms in connection with their drug trafficking activities. On October 20, 2011, JONES pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute marijuana. Not all of the defendants charged as a result of this investigation are alleged to be gang members or associates.

This matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Northern Connecticut Violent Crimes Gang Task Force—which includes representatives of the FBI, Connecticut State Police and Hartford Police Department—and the Drug Enforcement Administration.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Brian P. Leaming and Geoffrey M. Stone.