Federal Jury in Bridgeport Finds 2 Members of Violent Waterbury Gang Guilty

On May 10, 2024, a federal jury in Bridgeport found GABRIEL PULLIAM, also known as “G, ” 30, and JULIAN SCOTT, also known as “Ju Sav,” 25, guilty of offenses related their participation in the 960 gang, a violent Waterbury street gang.

Today’s announcement was made by Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut; Maureen T. Platt, State’s Attorney for the Waterbury Judicial District; Robert Fuller, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Boston Field Division; and Waterbury Police Chief Fernando C. Spagnolo.

In an effort to address drug trafficking and related violence in Waterbury, the FBI, ATF, and Waterbury Police have been investigating multiple Waterbury-based groups, including the 960 gang.  On September 14, 2021, a federal grand jury in Hartford returned a 36-count indictment charging 960 members Pulliam, Scott, and 14 other alleged gang members, with racketeering, narcotics trafficking, firearm possession, murder, attempted murder and assault, and obstruction of justice offenses.

According to the evidence presented during the approximately five-week trial:

• On October 6, 2018, in a drive-by shooting, Scott and other gang members attempted to murder individuals believed to be members of a rival gang, which resulted in gunshot wounds to an individual.
• On October 11, 2018, in an effort to murder rival gang members, Pulliam, Scott, and other gang members participated in a drive-by shooting that resulted in the death of an innocent bystander, 30-year-old Fransua Guzman, and the paralysis of a second victim.
• On November 18, 2018, Scott and other gang members participated in a drive-by shooting of rival gang members, which resulted in gunshot wounds to two individuals.

The jury found Pulliam and Scott guilty of conspiracy to engage in a pattern of racketeering activity, murder in violation of the Violent Crimes in Aid of Racketeering (“VCAR”) statute, causing death through the use of a firearm and in relation to a crime of violence, attempted murder and assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering, and carrying and using a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.  Pulliam was also found guilty of conspiracy to possess, with intent to distribute, and to distribute, controlled substances.

At sentencing, which is not scheduled, Pulliam and Scott face a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment.

To date, 14 members and associates of the 960 gang who were charged federally in September 2021 have been convicted.  The convictions include four defendants who, after a six-week trial, were found guilty on February 14, 2024.  Three of the four convicted on that date were found to have committed the murders of Clarence Lewis and Antonio Santos on November 22, 2017, as well as other violent acts.  They also face mandatory sentences of life imprisonment.

“This type of gang-related activity, coordinated crimes, and the destruction they cause will not be tolerated by law enforcement, and we will continue to bring all of our resources to bear and combat them,” said U.S. Attorney Avery.  “No person or group of people is entitled to wreak havoc by engaging in repeated acts of violence, instilling fear and trauma on the children and families who reside in our communities.  We are pleased that this investigation and prosecution have had a significant impact on the violence being perpetrated in Waterbury.  I thank State’s Attorney Platt, Chief Spagnolo, the FBI, ATF, U.S. Marshals Service, the Connecticut Forensic Science Laboratory, the DEA Laboratory, and those police departments that have assigned personnel to multiple federal tasks forces, for the invaluable partnership that has made possible these convictions, removed numerous violent individuals from the community, and made Waterbury safer.”

“The 14 pleas and convictions obtained in this case are the result of years of painstaking work, and illustrate what can be accomplished when both federal and state agencies cooperate by sharing information and working together to make our communities safer,” said Waterbury State’s Attorney Platt.  “We are very grateful for the tremendous effort and resources that the U.S. Attorney’s Office put forward to stop these violent gang offenders.  I am extremely proud of the hard work, dedication, and professionalism exhibited by members of the Waterbury State’s Attorney’s Office who were led by Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney Don Therkildsen, and included Deputy Assistant State’s Attorney Alex Arroyo and Inspector Mike Slavin.  Lastly, the Waterbury Police Department, under the leadership of Chief Fernando Spagnolo, must be commended for its thorough and complete investigation of this complex and difficult prosecution.”

“Waterbury community members and surrounding towns are experiencing a sense of relief as a result of this specific operation,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Fuller.  “Thanks to the joint efforts of local, state, and federal law enforcement, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, we have halted a violent group from operating in Waterbury.  We will continue to utilize all of our resources to dismantle violent groups and improve the quality of life in Connecticut communities.”

“The Waterbury Police Department and City of Waterbury are pleased with the results of the recent 960 RICO trial,” said Waterbury Police Chief Spagnolo.  “We are grateful for the relationships with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, FBI, ATF, U.S. Marshals Service, Waterbury States Attorney’s Office, and all members of the Violent Crime Task Force.  The individuals that have been convicted posed a significant threat to our community, engaging in acts of violence and causing fear throughout a number of different neighborhoods.  Waterbury is a much safer place today as a result of this joint investigation and dedicated prosecution of these individuals.”

This investigation has been conducted by the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force, Waterbury Police Department, ATF, and U.S. Marshals Service, with the assistance of the Southington Police Department, Watertown Police Department, New Milford Police Department, Connecticut State Police, Connecticut Department of Correction, Connecticut Forensic Science Laboratory, and the DEA Laboratory.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys John T. Pierpont, Jr., Natasha M. Freismuth, and Geoffrey M. Stone, and Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney Don E. Therkildesen, Jr. and Deputy Assistant State’s Attorney Alexandra Arroyo of the Waterbury State’s Attorney’s Office, who have been cross-designated as Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys in this matter.

This prosecution is a part of the Justice’s Department’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) and Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) programs.

PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.  Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.