Three CT gangsters face as much as life in prison in crackdown on violent drug crime

Three of four Connecticut men face as much as life in prison for murder and racketeering after being convicted under a continuing law enforcement effort to stamp out gunfights and other violence connected to battles between drug gangs.

Convicted most recently by a federal jury in New Haven were Bridgeport residents Keishawn Donald, 22; Trevon Wright, 22; Eric Hayes, 26; and Travon Jones, 21. All four are members of Bridgeport’s East End gang and were accused and convicted of involvement in multiple killings.

Donald, Wright, Hayes, and Jones were found guilty of conspiring to engage in a pattern of racketeering activity.  While Donald, Wright and Jones face possible life sentences, Hayes faces up to 20 years in prison.

Two rival gangsters were convicted last month and prosecutions are continuing in federal court.

Feds are breaking up a violent CT gang. ‘Mikey RTN’ and ‘Haz’ pleaded guilty to being part of it.

“Drug trafficking, along with the violence that all too often accompanies it, is a serious threat to the safety and security of our communities,” said Brain D. Boyle, a special agent of the federal Drug Enforcement Administration, a participant in the continuing investigation. “Drug dealers and street gangs value their own profits over human life, and are responsible for fueling drug addiction and much of the violent crimes across New England.”

The East End gang started on the city’s east side, but has grown through a succession of alliances with other criminal groups and now claims members across the city and suburbs and in a variety of prisons and jails. It competed for drug territory with the Original North End gang and the Greene Homes Boyz based in a north side housing project.

The East End gang sold heroin, cocaine, marijuana and authorities said it is responsible for at least six killings and an array of other acts of violence. The gangsters bragged about their crimes on social media and used violence and threats to scare away potential witnesses, prosecutors said.

During the trial, the government presented evidence that:

• On January 30, 2018, Donald shot and killed Eric Heard, a.k.a. “Fetti,” a rival gangster.
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• On March 5, 2019, Hayes shot and killed Jerrell Gatewood.
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• On July 12, 2019, Jones and another East End Member, Tyrone Moore, shot and killed Sean Warren, also known as “Kujoe,” a member and associate of the O.N.E. gang.
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• On September 15, 2019, Wright shot and attempted to kill Marquis Isreal, a.k.a. “Garf” or “Gbaby,” a member and associate of the O.N.E. gang.
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• On October 17, 2019, Jones shot and attempted to kill Joshua Gilbert, a member and associate of the O.N.E. gang.
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• On December 8, 2019, Wright shot and attempted to kill Arvan Smith, a.k.a. “Arv Barkley,” an associate of the O.N.E. gang.
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• On January 26, 2020, Wright shot and killed Myreke Kenion and shot and attempted to kill D’Andre Brown, both members and associates of a north side gang.

Dozens of gang members have been charged in the far reaching federal, state and local police investigation of gang violence following a brazen, noontime assassination attempt outside the busy state Superior Court on Golden Hill Street.

In January 2020, a group allied with the O.N.E gang pumped dozens of shots into a car containing four members of a rival gang, in retaliation for the killing of a northside gangster by one of the rivals the night before.

The attack scattered shell casings in the crowded street and left 23 bullet holes in just the front windshield of the parked Chevrolet carrying the victims. All four were hit, two seriously. One was paralyzed and a second victim sustained multiple gunshot wounds to his back, shoulder and wrist.