Hartford police: 13 members of violent group facing racketeering charges after year-long investigation
An 11-month investigation into narcotics trafficking and numerous street crimes, including multiple murders, has led to authorities obtaining warrants for 13 members of a violent group on racketeering charges.
The Hartford Police Department announced the arrests Wednesday and said five of the 13 individuals implicated have been arrested while the others remain in state or federal custody and will be charged during upcoming court appearances.
Hartford police said the arrests were part of an investigation initiated last May by the Major Crimes Division, Vice, Intelligence and Narcotics Division, Capital City Command Center and Hartford State’s Attorney’s Office with the assistance of federal law enforcement and prosecution partners. The investigation was launched in response to “numerous violent and narcotic related incidents” involving members of a group identified as the “Get Money Steppas,” Hartford Lt. Aaron Boisvert said in a statement Wednesday.
“These incidents include multiple homicides, shootings, acts of retaliatory violence, narcotics dealings, auto thefts and arson,” Boisvert said. “Significant information relative to the group’s membership, hierarchy, methods of identification, and ongoing criminal conduct, was identified and documented by Intelligence Division investigators.”
The warrants investigators obtained following the lengthy investigation charge 13 members of Get Money Steppas with violating the Corrupt Organization and Racketeering Activity Act.
According to Boisvert, the five individuals who have already been charged were taken into custody by members of the United States Marshals Violent Fugitive Task Force and the Hartford Police Violent Crime Unit.
The individuals implicated in the investigation include:
- Jeremy White, 21, who is being held on $750,000 bond
- Guilberto Mendez, 28, who is being held on $750,000 bond
- Leonardo Laboy, 24, who is being held on $750,000 bond
- Paul Downer, 28, who is being held on $750,000 bond
- Juan Perez, 28, who is being held on $750,000 bond
- Nathan Delgado, 21, who is being held on $200,000 bond
- Xavier Gomez, 23, who is being held on $200,000 bond
- Linoshka Barbosa, 24, who is being held on $200,000 bond
- Pedro Fuentes, 30, who is being held on $500,000 bond
- Kennethzel Rivera, 20, who is being held on $500,000 bond
- Jose Perdomo, 24, who is being held on $500,000 bond
- Isiah Barnett, 26, who is being held on $200,000 bond
- Jeremiah Rios, 16, who police said was held on a “take into custody order”