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To address escalating violence in Bridgeport, the FBI, ATF, DEA, U.S. Marshals, and Bridgeport Police Department launched an investigation into the gang who are involved in narcotics trafficking, murder, and other acts of violence, leading to the new arrests of several members.
The latest indictment alleges that the East End gang distributed heroin, crack cocaine, marijuana, and Percocet pills; used and shared firearms; murdered rival gang members and other individuals.
Gang members Keishawn Donald, 19, Trevon Wright, 19, Kyran Dangerfield, 24, and Eric Hayes, 24, were charged with various crimes, including murder and attempted murder. Wright was arrested last week, the other three were already detained for previous crimes.
It is alleged that:
- On Jan. 30, 2018, Donald shot and killed Eric Heard, a.k.a. “Fetti,” a member and associate of the GHB/Hotz gang;
- On Sept. 18, 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;
- On Oct. 17, 2019, Donald agreed with other East End gang members to shoot and attempt to kill Joshua Gilbert, a member, and associate of the O.N.E. gang;
- On Dec. 8, 2019, Wright shot and attempted to kill Arvan Smith, a.k.a. “Arv Barkley,” an associate of the O.N.E. gang;
- On Jan. 26, 2020, Wright and “JW,” an East End associate who is now deceased, shot and killed Myreke Kenion and shot and attempted to kill D’Andre Brown, both associates of the GHB/Hotz gang;
- On June 24, 2020, Dangerfield, JW, and a minor shot and killed Tyler Ballew, a member, and associate of the O.N.E. gang.
Federal officials said that East End members “celebrated their criminal conduct on social media websites such as Facebook and YouTube, and committed acts of intimidation and made threats to deter potential witnesses to their crimes and to protect gang members and associates from detection and prosecution by law enforcement authorities.”
“This ongoing investigation is methodically getting to the roots of much of the violent activity Bridgeport has experienced during the last few years,” U.S. Attorney John Durham. said. “The allegations in this indictment, combined with charges announced in previous indictments, detail numerous, senseless violent acts committed by members and associates of warring street gangs.
Durham noted that, in the past year, 21 members of the East End, O.N.E. and GHB/Hotz gangs have been charged with federal offenses as a result of this ongoing investigation.
“As gun violence continues to menace not only Bridgeport but other Connecticut cities, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners will employ the full weight of federal law to neutralize these violent groups and remove their members who murder and maim from the community,” he added.
If convicted, Donald, Wright, and Dangerfield face a maximum term of life in prison. Hayes faces a maximum term of 20 years in prison.
“Gun violence, group member violence, drug activity, etc., have been an expressed concern of the residents within our communities,” acting Bridgeport Police Chief Rebeca Garcia said. “Therefore, we have taken an even greater proactive approach by applying resources to and collaborating with these agencies, and are now witnessing the benefits of these partnerships.”
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