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.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment