John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, David Sundberg, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Norwich Police Chief Patrick J. Daley today announced that a federal grand jury in Hartford has returned an indictment charging nine individuals with narcotics offenses related to their alleged involvement in a statewide drug ring.

The indictment was returned on June 30 and unsealed yesterday after six of the defendants were arrested.

This matter stems from a joint investigation led by the FBI and the Norwich, New London and Hartford Police Departments into a narcotics distribution network that stretched from southeastern Connecticut to the Hartford, New Britain and Waterbury areas.  The investigation has included court-authorized wiretaps, surveillance, search warrants, and seizures of cocaine and crack cocaine.

The four-count indictment charges each of the following individuals with conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, various quantities of cocaine and/or cocaine base (“crack cocaine”):

LUIS CARRASQUILLO, a/k/a “Cuchi,” 49, of HartfordJASHUA CARASQUILLO, a/k/a “Chuy,” 25, of HartfordAARON CLAYTON, a/k/a “Ace,” 52, of New BritainDARRICK SHELBY, a/k/a “Butch, and “Butchy Brown,” 60, of NorwichHECTOR UMPIERRE, 57, of WaterburyDARRIN HARRIS, 44, of NorwichJERMAINE NEWELL, 34, of WaterburyFRANK BIGGS, 62, of HamdenKELLY MCGILL, 50, of Norwich

The indictment alleges that, between November 2019 and March 2020, each defendant conspired to distribute various narcotics.  If convicted of this charge, based on the type and quantity of narcotics involved, seven of the nine defendants face a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of at least five years.  Based on his criminal history, Luis Carrasquillo faces a mandatory term of imprisonment of 15 years.  Harris and Newell face a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.

On March 17, 2020, law enforcement conducted court-authorized searches of the residences of Luis Carrasquillo, Jashua Carrasquillo and Aaron Clayton and seized approximately three kilograms of cocaine and nearly $100,000 in cash.  No arrests were made at the time due to concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Luis Carrasquillo, Jashua Carrasquillo, Clayton, Shelby, Umpierre and Newell were arrested yesterday.  Harris, Biggs and McGill are being sought by law enforcement. 

U.S. Attorney Durham stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt.  Charges are only allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This matter is being investigated by Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Norwich, New London and Hartford Police Departments.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Margaret Donovan and Maria del Pilar Gonzalez.