David B. Fein, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today
announced that two men involved in a violent narcotics trafficking ring in
Bridgeport were sentenced earlier this week in New Haven federal court to
lengthy prison terms.
On January 28, United States District Judge Janet Bond Arterton sentenced
Stefan Winston, also known as “Cuda” and “Pooh,” 31, to 165 months of
imprisonment and five years of supervised release. On January 29, Judge Arterton
sentenced Alexis Ramos, also known as “Snake Rattle,” 31, to 100 months of
imprisonment and four years of supervised release.
This matter stems from Operation Slim Fast, a joint law enforcement
investigation that focused on two drug trafficking organizations, one that
operated out of Bridgeport and one that operated out of Bridgeport, Puerto Rico,
and Springfield, Massachusetts. In 2010, members of the Federal Bureau of
Investigation’s Bridgeport Safe Streets Task Force initiated an investigation of
narcotics trafficking activity in and around the Marina Village Housing Complex
in Bridgeport that focused primarily on the Marina Village Bloods, a violent
narcotics trafficking organization. Members of the Marina Village Bloods have
been responsible for, or connected to, multiple shootings in Bridgeport.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Winston, Ramos,
and others were members of the Sex, Money, Murder set of the Marina Village
Bloods and sold large quantities of narcotics from an abandoned residence at
105/107 Johnson Street, which is located across from the street from the Marina
Village Housing Complex. On multiple occasions, gang members were intercepted
over court-authorized wiretaps discussing their narcotics trafficking
activities. The wiretapped conversations further revealed that members of the
Marina Village Bloods alternately referred to the Johnson Street residence as
the “kitchen,” “trap,” or “white house.”
The investigation revealed that, in addition to narcotics trafficking,
Winston was involved in the straw purchase of two firearms and also possessed
and used firearms on a regular basis. At the time of his arrest on January 5,
2011, Winston possessed an assault rifle and a handgun, both of which were
loaded.
On August 16, 2011, Winston pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to
distribute and to possess with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of
heroin and 28 grams or more of cocaine base (“crack cocaine”). His criminal
history includes multiple felony convictions, including convictions for unlawful
possession of a firearm and armed robbery.
On August 14, 2012, Ramos pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to
possess with intent to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine base. His criminal
history includes multiple convictions for sale and possession of narcotics and
possession of weapons.
Winston and Ramos have been detained since their arrests on January 5,
2011.
As a result of this investigation, 19 individuals have been charged in
federal court with various narcotics and firearms related offenses, and law
enforcement officers seized approximately four kilograms of cocaine, one
kilogram of crack cocaine, a quantity of heroin, an SKS assault rifle, five
handguns, and more than $150,000 in cash.
This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s
Bridgeport Safe Streets Task Force—which is composed of personnel from the FBI;
the Bridgeport, Norwalk, and Trumbull Police Departments; with assistance from
the United States Marshals Service; Internal Revenue Service-Criminal
Investigation; Drug Enforcement Administration; Connecticut State Police; and
Hartford, Stratford, and Stamford Police Departments.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Tracy
Dayton, Doug Morabito, and Jonathan Freimann.
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