Indictment Charges 24 Individuals Connected to Southeastern Connecticut Drug Ring
John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England, today announced that a federal grand jury in Hartford has returned an indictment charging 24 individuals connected to a southeastern Connecticut drug trafficking ring with narcotics and related offenses.
The indictment, which was returned on March 5 and unsealed today after eight defendants were arrested, stems from a joint investigation led by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Connecticut Statewide Narcotics Taskforce East, Connecticut Department of Correction and the New London, Waterford, City of Groton and Stonington Police Departments, into the distribution of narcotics and illegal possession of firearms in southeastern Connecticut. The investigation has included court-authorized wiretaps, and controlled purchases and seizures of heroin, cocaine and crack cocaine, and firearms.
As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, the investigation revealed that Anthony Whyte, of New London, obtained heroin, fentanyl and cocaine from various sources in Connecticut and elsewhere, and distributed the narcotics to other members of the conspiracy. Whyte’s co-conspirators then sold the drugs to customers and other street-level drug dealers.
On February 21, 2018, Whyte and 10 of his alleged co-conspirators were arrested on federal criminal complaints. On that date, a search of Whyte’s New London apartment revealed more than 1.5 kilograms of cocaine, more than 350 grams of heroin, and 10 firearms. Investigators seized additional narcotics, another firearm, and nearly $200,000 in cash from other members of the conspiracy.
The 22-count indictment charges each of the following individuals with conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, various quantities of heroin, fentanyl, cocaine and cocaine base (“crack cocaine”):
- ANTHONY WHYTE, a.k.a. “Jak Mac,” 44, of New London
- ROYSHAWN ALLGOOD, a.k.a. “Boy Roy,” 29, of Norwich and New London
- HOLLY BUTLER, 41, of Norwich
- KEMAR CAMERON, 31, of West Haven
- NIREN DAVIS, a.k.a. “King,” 37, of Norwich
- EARLENE DUDLEY, JR., a.k.a. “Big Fish,” 38, of Norwich
- VICTOR ENCARNACION, 31, of Norwich
- JOSHUA FELDMAN, 45, of New London
- ANTOINE FORBES, a.k.a. “Cream,” 39, of Uncasville, Conn. and Westerly, R.I.
- RAMEL GENERAL, a.k.a. “Ra,” 37, of Groton
- BENJAMIN GREGOR, 33, of Uncasville
- JACKIE HERNANDEZ, 41, of New London
- JUAN HERNANDEZ, 35, of New London
- RONALD KETTER, 38, of New London
- ORLAYN MARQUEZ, a.k.a. “Cuba,” 36, of Bristol
- BRIAN McCLELLAN, 29, of Norwich
- AGGRAY MCLEOD, a.k.a. “Jamaican Berry,” 50, of New London
- AMY SARCIA, 49, of Stonington
- JEREMY SANBORN, a.k.a. “Jerm,” 40, of Ledyard
- DILMA SOLANGE SILVA, 32, of Waterbury
- RAYQUAN STOKLEY, a.k.a. “Gatz,” 36, of New London
- SASHA SWAIN, 43, of Old Saybrook
Two defendants charged in the indictment are still being sought by law enforcement.
The indictment alleges that, between March 2018 and February 2019, each defendant conspired to distribute various narcotics. If convicted of this charge, based on the type and quantity of narcotics involved, Whyte, General and Marquez face a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life; Allgood, Butler, Cameron, Dudley, Encarnacion, Gregor, Jackie Hernandez, Sarcia and Silva face a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years, and the remaining defendants face a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.
The indictment also charges Whyte, Allgood, Feldman, Jackie Hernandez and Juan Hernandez with one or more counts of possession and/or distribution of various narcotics. In addition, Ketter is charged with one count of using a telephone to facilitate a drug trafficking felony.
Whyte is charged with possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, an offense that carries a mandatory consecutive sentence of five years, and Sanborn is charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.
Finally, the indictment charges Whyte and Sarcia with conspiracy to launder monetary instruments (“money laundering”), an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. It is alleged that Sarcia accepted narcotics proceeds from Whyte. In exchange, Sarcia provided Whyte with quarterly paychecks from her business, Two Wives Pizza, and a federal W-2 tax form, in an attempt to disguise the narcotics proceeds as employment wages. Sarcia also accepted cash from Whyte for allowing him to use a building she manages to store and dispense narcotics.
U.S. Attorney Durham stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This investigation is being conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Marshals Service, Homeland Security Investigations, Connecticut Statewide Narcotics Taskforce East, Connecticut Department of Correction and the New London, Waterford, City of Groton, Stonington, Norwich, Old Saybrook and UConn Police Departments, The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Natasha M. Freismuth and S. Dave Vatti.
