Sunday, February 09, 2020

Hartford Man Sentenced to 57 Months in Federal Prison for Role in Latin Kings Drug Trafficking Ring


John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that BRIAN MATOS, also known as “Buddha,” 30, of Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant in Hartford to 57 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for trafficking cocaine and fentanyl.

According to court documents and statements made in court, this matter stems from an investigation conducted by the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Violent Crimes Gang Task Force and Hartford Police Department’s Vice and Narcotics Division into the trafficking of narcotics and associated violence in Hartford’s South End by members and associates of the Almighty Latin Kings Nation (“Latin Kings”).  The investigation, which included court-authorized wiretaps, physical surveillance and controlled purchases of narcotics, revealed that two alleged members of the Latin Kings operated separate drug trafficking organizations that distributed fentanyl, heroin, cocaine and crack cocaine.  The organizations used multiple locations to process, package, store and distribute narcotics, and possessed firearms in furtherance of their drug trafficking activities.  Matos helped broker transactions with a cocaine supplier for one of the drug trafficking organizations, and also assisted in the packaging and delivery of fentanyl for street sale.

During the investigation, on June 10, 2018, City of Hartford surveillance cameras captured another member of the organization, Hector Santiago, pistol-whipping a victim.  Santiago was eventually located and arrested by Hartford Police, but no gun was located.  After the incident, intercepted communications revealed that Matos helped to locate, recover and stash the gun used during the assault.

Matos has been detained since his arrest.  On November 7, 2019, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and distribution of, cocaine, heroin and fentanyl.

Matos’ criminal history includes state convictions for firearm and narcotics.

Santiago, also known as “Bebo,” pleaded guilty to related federal charges and, on November 18, 2019, was sentenced to 69 months of imprisonment.

This matter is being investigated by the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Violent Crimes Gang Task Force and the Hartford Police Department.  The Task Force includes members of the Hartford Police Department, East Hartford Police Department, Connecticut State Police and Connecticut Department of Correction.  The Hartford Police Department’s Vice and Narcotics Division and Shooting Task Force have provided valuable assistance to the investigation.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian P. Leaming.

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