East Haven Man Charged in Huge DEA Bust

Officials are calling it the largest federal criminal case in Connecticut history.

More than 100 defendants from New Haven and the surrounding area — including Michael Deluca, 35, from — have been charged in what law enforcement called "Operation Bloodline," a year-long joint investigation headed by the DEA's New Haven Task Force. 

'Joint Law Enforcement Investigation'

According to a press release from the U.S. Department of Justice, Operation Bloodline is "a joint law enforcement investigation headed by the DEA New Haven Task Force, targeting narcotics trafficking and gang violence in the Dwight-Kensington and Fair Haven sections of New Haven."  

At a press conference in New Haven Tuesday afternoon, United States Attorney David Fein said the investigation began when police learned about gang presence in two New Haven neighborhoods: the Bloods in Dwight-Kensington and the Island Brothers in Fair Haven.

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'Not The End'

Arrests began Thursday and continued until Tuesday morning. Officers confiscated substantial amounts of cocaine, crack, heroin, marijuana, oxycodin, and unlawful firearms.

"This is not the end of the investigation but rather the beginning," said DEA Special Agent Kevin Lane. Lane said 90 arrests have been made and 15 individuals are still being sought by police.

While all arrests were made in the New Haven area, officers from Hamden, West Haven, North Haven, Branford, Ansonia and Meriden contributed. Fein added a long list of thanks to groups including the U.S. marshals Service and the Connecticut State Police.

The following is the full press release from the Department of Justice:

David B. Fein, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Kevin Lane, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration in New England, today announced that a total of 105 defendants have been charged as a result of “Operation Bloodline,” a joint law enforcement investigation headed by the DEA New Haven Task Force, targeting narcotics trafficking and gang violence in the Dwight-Kensington and Fair Haven sections of New Haven. Based on law enforcement operations last week continuing through early this morning, ninety defendants have been arrested, and fifteen defendants are still being sought by law enforcement.       

The year-long investigation that culminated in today’s arrests included the use of court-authorized wiretaps on 22 telephones, extensive physical surveillance, controlled purchases of narcotics, execution of search warrants and seizures of narcotics and firearms.       

Earlier this month, federal grand juries sitting in New Haven returned six indictments charging 101 individuals with various offenses related to the distribution of cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin, marijuana and oxycodone, the unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition, and the possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes in and around New Haven. An additional four defendants have been arrested on criminal complaints. On May 17, three of those indictments charging 61 individuals were unsealed. On May 18, a fourth indictment charging one defendant was unsealed.  Today, two indictments charging an additional 39 defendants were unsealed after DEA Task Force members and assisting law enforcement agencies arrested 35 defendants.        

According to statements made in court, in the spring of 2011, the DEA Task Force, in conjunction with the New Haven Police Department and the Hamden Police Department, analyzed crime data in New Haven and identified the Dwight-Kensington neighborhood (known as the “Tre”) and the Fair Haven neighborhood as focal points in the Task Force’s efforts to reduce violent crime and narcotics and firearm trafficking in the city.  Investigators also developed information that there was a large presence of street gang members from the Bloods in the Tre and from the Island Brothers in Fair Haven, and that many of the violent acts in those areas stemmed from gang-related drug trafficking.       

“I want to acknowledge the brave and dedicated work of the DEA Task Force, and each of the police departments and law enforcement agencies that participated in this substantial investigation and the many arrests today and last week,” said U.S. Attorney Fein. “This operation speaks to the commitment of federal law enforcement and our state and local partners to reduce gang violence and to bring narcotics and firearms violators to justice.  I also want to acknowledge the U.S. Marshals Service for its critical assistance this past week.”       

“The arrests of these individuals will send a clear message that there is no area that DEA and our law enforcement partners will relinquish to gangs,” said DEA Acting Special Agent in Charge Kevin Lane. “If you traffic drugs, you will be investigated, arrested and prosecuted. The success of this operation is a direct attribute of the collaborative work effort of the DEA New Haven Task Force, our local law enforcement counterparts and the United States Attorney’s Office.”       

“The New Haven Police Department is grateful to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the DEA and all the law enforcement agencies involved who have partnered with us to address violence in our city and to hold those responsible accountable,” said New Haven Police Chief Dean Esserman.       

“The success of today’s multi-jurisdictional operation represents outstanding collaboration and effective pooling of resources on the part of local and federal law enforcement authorities,” said Hamden Police Chief Thomas Wydra. “We place a very high value on fostering and maintaining these partnerships in the interests of enhancing the quality of life in our communities, and our overall law enforcement product.”       

On May 10, 2012, a grand jury returned an indictment charging the following 20 individuals with various narcotics offenses related to the trafficking of cocaine, crack cocaine, marijuana and oxycodone, primarily in greater New Haven:

• CHRISTOPHER MORLEY, a.k.a. “White Boy Chris, 33, of New Haven
• GREGORY ACCETURA, a.k.a. “Leg,” 50, of Boynton Beach, Fla., formerly of Connecticut
• BERNARD BYRD, a.k.a. “BB” and “Chip,” 25, of New Haven
• JASON DAURIA, 35, of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., formerly of Connecticut
• MICHAEL DELUCA, 35, of East Haven
• CHRISTEN EDWARDS, 24, of Branford
• WILLIAM FITZGERALD, a.k.a. “Quay,” 31, of New Haven
• JESSIE HOPKINS, a.k.a. “Wes,” 28, of New Haven
• KAI JACKSON, a.k.a. “Killer Kai,” 30, of New Haven
• RICHIE JONES, a.k.a. “Slick,” 24, of New Haven
• BRITT MARTIN, a.k.a. “Big Baby,” 28, of Northford
• ANDREW MELILLO, 26, of Meriden
• MICHAEL MELILLO
• ANTHONY MICARELLI, 61, of North Haven
• ROBERT MORRIS, 20, of New Haven
• JOSEPH RAO, 52, of New Haven
• MICHAEL THOMPSON, of New Haven
• TYLON VAUGHN, a.k.a. “Bucky B,” 34, of New Haven
• MARQUIS WINFREY, a.k.a. “Quisy,” 22, of New Haven
• ANTWAIN YOPP, a.k.a. “Skeletor,” 29, of  New Haven             

If convicted of the charges in the indictment, these defendants face a minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum term of life.  Due to having incurred prior narcotics trafficking convictions, a number of defendants face increased penalties.       

On May 15, 2012, a grand jury returned an indictment charging the following 19 individuals with various offenses related to the distribution of cocaine and crack cocaine, primarily in the Dwight-Kensington and Fair Haven neighborhoods in New Haven: 

• MICHAEL SMITH, a.k.a. “Smitty” and “Fingers,” 41, of Hamden
• ANTHONY BROWN, a.k.a. “Rassconi,” 45, of New Haven
• FRANK DOUGHTY, a.k.a. “Fresh,” 41, of East Haven
• CARNELL EDWARDS, a.k.a. “Kerm,” 42, of New Haven
• MARTY EDWARDS, a.k.a. “Slim,” 43, of Hamden
• TYRELL GARY, a.k.a. “T-Buggy,” 27, of New Haven
• YOLANDA GIBSON-HOLLAND, a.k.a. “Candy,” 24, of New Haven
• MAURICE HAMMOND, 37, of New Haven
• SHIRROD HENDERSON, a.k.a. “Rizz,” 32, of New Haven
• MELVIN JAMES, 40, of New Haven
• NIGEL JONES, a.k.a. “Kool Nike,” 30, of West Haven
• ROBERT LEE, a.k.a. “B.O.,” 34, of West Haven
• SHAWN MENTION, a.k.a. “B.M.,” 41, of New Haven
• ANTHONY MOORE, a.k.a. “Freak,” 31, of New Haven
• STEVEN NESMITH, a.k.a. “Debo” and “Country,” 36, of New Haven
• KARRIEM PETERS, 38, of New Haven
• MEGGY RENTAS, 39, of New Haven
• ZARKEE SANDERS, a.k.a. “Dark Night,” 35, of New Haven
• AARON YORK, a.k.a. “A.C.,” 43, of New Haven

If convicted of the charges in the indictment, these defendants face a minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years.  Due to having incurred prior narcotics trafficking convictions, a number of defendants face increased penalties.        

A grand jury also returned an indictment charging JEROD WILSON, 26, of New Haven, with unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.       

The following four individuals have been arrested on federal criminal complaints charging each with conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, a charge that carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years: 

• HERNAN VARON-RAMIREZ, a.k.a. “Carlos,” 42, of West Haven
• RODRIGO ROMAN, a.k.a. “Bobby,” 38, of West Haven
• FREEMAN BETHEA, 55, of New Haven
• HARRY WILEY, 52, of New Haven      

According to statements made in court, it is alleged that VARON-RAMIREZ supplied cocaine to MICHAEL SMITH.       

As previously announced, on May 15, 2012, a grand jury returned an indictment charging the following 44 individuals with various narcotics offenses related to the trafficking of cocaine, crack cocaine and heroin primarily in the Dwight-Kensington neighborhood of New Haven: 

• KEVIN WILSON, a.k.a. “Nature” and “Nate,” 27, of New Haven
• RICHARD ANDERSON, a.k.a. “Mayut” and “Porter,” 25 of New Haven
• LYNWOOD BACOTE, a.k.a. “Max,” 32, of New Haven
• BRAD BRANNIC, a.k.a. “Cracks,” 29, of New Haven
• PATRICK BATCHELOR, a.k.a. “Diddy,” 29, of New Haven
• TOMMY BATTLE, a.k.a. “Twin,” 32, of New Haven
• JEFFREY BENTON, a.k.a. “Fresh,” 27, of New Haven
• CHOLOE BRIGHT, a.k.a. “Chi-Chi” and “Chello,” 27, of New Haven
• EZEL BUCHANAN, a.k.a. “EZ,” 33, of New Haven
• PHILIP BRYANT, a.k.a. “Phat Phil” and “Fizzy,” 25, of New Haven
• RAYMOND CARSON, a.k.a. “Dirt,” 37, of New Haven
• VINCENT CLARK, a.k.a. “Nu-Nu” and “Duke,” 30, of New Haven
• FREDRICK COX, a.k.a. “Boot,” 21, of New Haven
• FREDRICK COX, SR., a.k.a. “Bama-Lama,” 41, of New Haven
• DARRELL DAVIS, a.k.a. “Baller,” 33, of New Haven
• JOHNNY DE LOS SANTOS, a.k.a. “Na-Na,” (AGE), of New Haven
• JOSE DEJESUS, a.k.a. “Flaco,” 28, of New Haven
• JOSHUWA DIAZ, a.k.a. “Fot,” 21, of New Haven
• ERIC DURANT, a.k.a. “5-8,” 39, of New Haven
• DANIEL EVANS, a.k.a. “D-Nice,” 30, of New Haven
• GILBERT GALAN, JR., a.k.a. “G” and “Skittles,” 30, of New Haven
• PIERRE GALAN, a.k.a. “PLO,” 27, of New Haven
• JERMAINE GALBERTH, a.k.a. “Maine,” 26, of New Haven,CARL HAILEY, a.k.a. “Squirt,” 47, of New Haven,
• WILLIAM HINES, a.k.a. “Gunz,” 28, of New Haven
• EMORY JAMES, a.k.a. “Emmo,” 40, of New Haven
• LAMAR JONES, a.k.a. “Cream,” 28, of New Haven
• COREY MADDOX, a.k.a. “CL,” 35, of New Haven
• JAMES MOORE, a.k.a. “Coolie D,” 32, of New Haven
• JESUS MORALES, a.k.a. “Cano,” 40, of New Haven
• RICKY NEWTON, a.k.a. “Sup,” 28, of New Haven
• CHRISTINA PALLUOTO, 27, of New Haven
• AMAURY P’DILLA, a.k.a. “Audi,” (AGE), of New Haven
• QUIYON REED, a.k.a. “Gutter,” 30, of New Haven
• ROY REID, a.k.a. “Jamma,” 24, of New Haven
• NELSON RIOS, a.k.a. “Pito,” 35, of New Haven
• MICHAEL SANTANA, 26, of Hamden
• ROBERT SANTOS, a.k.a. “Scoot,” 30, of New Haven
• ALEXIS SUTTON, 21, of New Haven
• JOSE TORRES, a.k.a. “Lethal,” 28, of West Haven
• JUAN VARGAS, a.k.a. “Juan Chiefy,” 25, of New Haven
• JACQUELINE VALENTINE, 22, of New Haven
• TYRESE WHITE, a.k.a. “Ears,” 36, of New Haven
• MARCUS WYLIE, a.k.a. “Wally Don” 22, of New Haven    

The indictment also charges WILSON and PIERRE GALAN with unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and WILSON with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a narcotics trafficking felony. GILBERT GALAN, JR. is also charged with unlawful possession of ammunition by a convicted felon.

A grand jury returned a separate indictment charging the following nine individuals with various offenses related to the distribution of cocaine and crack cocaine, also in the Dwight-Kensington neighborhood of New Haven: 

• JAMEEL WILKES, a.k.a. “Biggs,” 33, of New Haven
• RONALD BIDON, a.k.a. “Kiki,” 28, of New Haven
• MARK FULLER, 48, of New Haven
• JOSE JIMENEZ, a.k.a. “Vincent Mescrea,” 44, of New Haven
• KALIF KIERCE, a.k.a. “Leaf Buck,” 24, of New Haven
• JOSE NEGRON, a.k.a. “Bebe,” 33, of New Haven
• KEVIN THOMPSON, 34, of New Haven
• CARLOS TORRES-CORPES, a.k.a. “Papo,” 39, of New Haven
• EDWARD WATERS, a.k.a. “Trigger Tre” 23 of West Haven        

A grand jury also returned an indictment charging the following eight individuals with offenses relating to the trafficking of cocaine and crack cocaine, predominantly in Fair Haven: 

• JAMES BOWMAN, a.k.a. “Jimmy-Jam,” 33, of New Haven
• EARL BANKS, a.k.a. “E.J.,” of 21, of New Haven
• THOMAS CARR, a.k.a. “Tommy Love,” 24, of New Haven
• THOMAS CROCKER, a.k.a. “Stuffy,” 26, of New Haven
• LEWIS FREEMAN, a.k.a. “Free,” 30, of New Haven
• DEION MANUEL, a.k.a. “Brother D,” 26, of New Haven
• TIFFANY MARTINEZ, 23, of New Haven
• DAVID THOMAS, 28, of New Haven