United States Attorney's Office District of Connecticut
Press Release

Project Safe Neighborhoods: WATERBURY MAN SENTENCED TO 27 MONTHS ON FEDERAL FIREARMS CONVICTION

Nora R. Dannehy, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that MIGUEL ROSADO, also known as “Zone,” 20, of Catherine Avenue, Waterbury, was sentenced yesterday, May 5, by United States District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant in Hartford to 27 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for being a previously convicted felon in possession of a firearm.  ROSADO pleaded guilty to the offense on February 15, 2008.  The charge stems from a joint law enforcement investigation into the Latin Kings in Waterbury.

According to documents filed with the Court and statements made in court, on September 19, 2007, ROSADO, along with co-defendants Andrew Aguilar and Orlando Gonzalez, took part in the sale of a semi-automatic assault rifle to another individual at a residence in Waterbury.  ROSADO had previously been convicted in 2006 for the felony offense of risk of injury to a minor.

Aguilar and Gonzalez have also pleaded guilty and await sentencing.

This matter stems from “Operation Royal Flush,” an investigation into the Latin Kings in Waterbury spearheaded by the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) in conjunction with the Waterbury Police Department’s Gang Task Force and the Connecticut Department of Correction.  The investigation, which commenced in January 2007, included the controlled purchases of firearms and illegal narcotics from more than 50 suspected members of the Latin Kings.  Eighteen individuals, including ROSADO, were arrested and charged with various federal drug trafficking and weapons violations.  Approximately 70 individuals are being prosecuted on state charges stemming from the investigation.

This investigation was funded in significant part through the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) and gang initiatives.

This matter is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Robert M. Spector, Edward R. Kang and S. Dave Vatti.

CONTACT:

U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
Tom Carson
(203) 821-3722
thomas.carson@usdoj.gov