May 12--A nine-month investigation into cocaine trafficking in Hartford's north end has led to the arrest of 36 people on a variety of narcotics and firearms charges.
Dubbed "Operation Vinefield," the joint federal and state investigation included court-authorized wiretaps, controlled purchases of crack cocaine, and physical surveillance of suspects. A grand jury started issuing indictments in March. The last indictment was handed down earlier this week.
"I want to acknowledge the hard work and full commitment of the FBI, the Hartford Police Department, the Connecticut State Police and the Connecticut Department of Correction in the lengthy investigation of this matter and the arrests of these defendants," U.S. Attorney David Fein said Friday.
The investigation spread from the Enfield Street area to the lower Vine Street area. Authorities seized several guns including a .9mm Ruger, a long rifle and a .38 revolver, according to court records. They also seized more than $60,000 in cash.
One of the people arrested was freelance journalist Stephen Terrill, 39, of Glastonbury, who appeared in U.S. District Court Friday for a detention hearing. He will be released on a $100,000 bond and will be on home confinement.
During the hearing, Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoff Stone gave some insight into how the investigation worked. Stone said that investigators monitoring the cellphone conversations of Jaeqwan Sheppard of Hartford on several occasions heard Terrill make arrangements to purchase "eight balls" of crack cocaine.
Stone said agents followed Sheppard out to Terrill's South Glastonbury home to complete the purchases. Stone said there is no evidence that Terrill was distributing the narcotics elsewhere after the purchases, but rather purchased it for personal use.
U.S. Magistrate Donna Martinez agreed to allow Terrill out on a $100,000 bond, of which $50,000 of it will be cash provided by Robert McCarthy, who described himself as Terrill's mentor in court.
McCarthy said that Terrill is a freelance journalist reporting on the genocide occurring in African countries such as Rwanda. Terrill has worked for several agencies including Agence France-Presse, the BBC and the Voice of America.
"Steven has flourished in Rwanda and I am quite proud of him but disappointed that he is back here in jail," McCarthy told Martinez.
Terrill was arrested at Bradley International Airport late Wednesday night by federal authorities as he was returning from his latest trip to Rwanda. He filed a story on Tuesday from Nkamira, Rwanda detailing the plight of a woman searching for her husband and children who she fears have been victims of the on-going war between soldiers from the Democratic Republic of Congo's army and mutineers -- who were until recently rebel soldiers.
All but one of the 36 people indicted has been arrested and presented in federal court. The only person still at large is Rakent Bunkley, 23, of Hartford. Four others are already in state custody.
Those arrested were; Joshua Easterling , 25, James Perkins, 25, Juan Cartagena, 27, Morris Carter, 23, Anthony Henry, 21, Everton Gunter, 21, Ebony Moore, 35, Eric Gomes, 45, Kyshifa Boyd, 22, Morris Carter Jr., 43, Hassan Muhammad, 22, Shakim White, 27, Dementrius Nave, 33, Tyrone Crump, 27, Justin Powell, 30, Kevin Allen, 40, Clinton Hill Weston, 35, Dana Adams, 42, Nida Williams, 34, Derrick Bailey, 43, Justin Stephenson, 25, Mongo Coleman, 38, Michael Bethea, 44, Michael Brockman, 41, Earl Davis, 53, Vashawn Ray, 24, Jeffrey Faniel, 30, Kewan Woodson, 19, Reuben Harris, 41, Morris Harmon Jr., 53, Patrick Rogers, 22, Johnny Rosa, 19, Earl Patrick, 47 and Jayquan Faniel, 27.
Those arrested were from at least five towns -- East Hartford, Glastonbury, Hartford, Meriden and West Hartford. If convicted they all face a mandatory minimum 10-year prison sentence and many of them could face more because of previous drug convictions, federal authorities said.
Copyright 2012 - The Hartford Courant, Conn.
