Press Releases
01/24/2024
Joint Investigation Into Racketeering, Gang and Drug Activity in Willimantic Results in Multiple Arrests
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Danielson, CT) - Anne F. Mahoney, Windham Judicial District State's Attorney, announced today that on January 23, 2024, the Willimantic Police Department conducted a large-scale operation aimed to stem a pattern of violence, gang activity and drug trafficking in the area of Pearl Street and Spring Street in Willimantic, resulting in the arrest of more than a dozen suspects, searches of several houses and seizure of a number of items believed to be proceeds of illegal activity including racketeering, weapons and narcotics related felony charges.
This investigation, called "Operation Black Pearl" by investigators, was the result of a year-long investigation conducted by the Willimantic Police Department Detective Division in conjunction with the Windham State’s Attorney’s Office into racketeering and gang activity in the City of Willimantic. The activity under investigation included the trafficking and sales of illegal narcotics, threats towards other rival gangs, and serious acts of violence including shootings, stabbings, robberies, and assaults related to claimed territory.
The Windham State’s Attorney’s Office recognizes the outstanding work and substantial time and energy expended by the Willimantic Police Department in conducting this long-term investigation, as well as the support and assistance from numerous other local law enforcement agencies including the Meriden Police Department, the Capital Region Emergency Services Team, the Coventry Police Department, the Eastern Connecticut State University Police Department, the Ledyard Police Department, the Connecticut Department of Corrections, the Connecticut Judicial Branch, the Fall River (Massachusetts) Police Department, the Massachusetts State Police and the Bristol County (Massachusetts) District Attorney’s Office.
The cases are being prosecuted by Supervisory Assistant State's Attorney Lou Luba.
Anyone with information about the sale of illegal narcotics or illegal firearms can contact the Willimantic Police Department at (860) 465-3135.
Those arrested included the following:
- Willie Brown, charged with Carrying a Pistol Without a Permit
- Jesus Cardona-Cruz, charged with Corrupt Organization and Racketeering Activity, four counts of Sale of Narcotics, two counts of Carrying a Pistol Without a Permit and Reckless Endangerment
- Julio Antonio Flores, charged with Corrupt Organization and Racketeering Activity
- Eric Gonzalez, charged with Possession of Narcotics with Intent to Sell
- Eladio Juminez, charged with Corrupt Organization and Racketeering Activity and Sale of Narcotics
- Larry Lassiter, charged with Corrupt Organization and Racketeering Activity
- Isabel Marcano, charged with Corrupt Organization and Racketeering Activity
- Madeline Medina, charged with Corrupt Organization and Racketeering Activity
- Yonaira Melendez-Hernandez, wanted on a Massachusetts arrest warrant charging Trafficking Narcotics
- Kelvin Novoa-Ortiz, charged with Corrupt Organization and Racketeering Activity
- Michael Anthony Rivera, charged with Corrupt Organization and Racketeering Activity
- Angel Robles-Nicasio, charged with Corrupt Organization and Racketeering Activity and two counts of Carrying a Pistol without a Permit
- Brian Fortuno-Serrano, charged with Corrupt Organization and Racketeering Activity
- Heriberto Torres-Laureano, charged with Possession of Narcotics with Intent to Sell
- Luis Villafane, charged with Corrupt Organization and Racketeering Activity, four counts of Sale of Narcotics, four counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon and four counts of Carrying a Pistol Without a Permit
All defendants charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.