United States Attorney's Office District of Connecticut
Press Release

Project Safe Neighborhoods: WATERBURY MAN ADMITS CRACK, GUN SALES

Kevin J. O’Connor, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JOSEPH COLON, also known as “Joey Crack,” 23, of West Main Street, Waterbury, pleaded guilty today before United States Magistrate Judge Thomas P. Smith in Hartford to one count of distribution of five grams or more of cocaine base (“crack cocaine”).  COLON also admitted that he committed the offense in connection with his possession of one or more firearms.

According to documents filed with the Court and statements made in court, on April 30, May 1, May 14, May 23, and July 10, 2007, he distributed various quantities of crack cocaine.  On May 23, June 27 and July 10, 2007, COLON sold two .22 caliber firearms and one .25 caliber firearm to another individual, twice in conjunction with the sale of crack cocaine.  When the Waterbury Police arrested Colon on October 24, 2007, they seized approximately 11 grams of crack cocaine and a firearm from his apartment.

The charges against COLON stem 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 COLON, 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.

COLON is scheduled to be sentenced by United States District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant on June 16, 2008, at which time he faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years.

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