Thomas Breen photo
Chief Reyes: “We will not tolerate gun violence.”
The FBI and city police have arrested 25 members of the Island Brothers gang, many of whom allegedly returned from prison to lives of crime and are connected to the recent spate of gun violence in New Haven.
Interim Police Chief Otoniel Reyes made that announcement Wednesday afternoon at a press conference held on the steps of the city police headquarters at 1 Union Ave.
Standing before two dozen FBI investigators, city detectives, and a host of other suburban and state police officials, Reyes announced that the feds had arrested and indicted 25 members of the Island Brothers gang earlier on Wednesday, culminating months worth of police work.
While declining to share the specific charges filed, Reyes and Lt. Karl Jacobson confirmed that many of those arrested are based out of New Haven and have been responsible for “multiple homicides and shootings” in the Elm City, as well as in districts as far as Massachusetts and New Hampshire. The city has seen a recent uptick in shootings and nonfatal gunshot victims amidst a decade-long trend of declining violent crime numbers.
Wednesday afternoon’s presser on the steps of 1 Union Ave.
While the charges filed this morning are related to drug trafficking and weapons possession, Jacobson said, the group’s alleged involvement in recent gun violence in New Haven is what tipped local and federal law enforcement off to their whereabouts.
“Today we stand together to reinforce to anyone that would choose to pick up a gun in the city of New Haven,” Reyes said, “that we will not tolerate gun violence in this city.”
Jacobson, who heads the local department’s investigation’s unit, said that city police have been working on this investigation, known as Operation Fantasy Island, for over a year. Some of the arrested were involved in Project Longevity, he said, which is the collaborative project that brings together regional and state police resources to encourage people likely to commit crimes to get on the straight and narrow. ‘
The Island Brothers gang was particularly active in violent drug trafficking in the city a few decades ago, Jacobson said, and were based out of the Qunnipiac Terrace neighborhood.
Many of those involved in today’s bust went to prison, returned to New Haven, and continued to commit acts of violence.
Lt. Karl Jacobson.
“It’s based here in New Haven,” Jacobson said about the gang. “There were periods of time when they would manufacture drugs in New Haven and distribute them to other areas,” including Massachusetts and New Hampshire.
“We want to send a message,” Reyes said, that the city police will come after anyone engaged in gun violence in New Haven. He said he expects more indictments to come out of this investigation. “We’re going to continue working.”
Click on the Facebook Live video below to watch the full press conference.
Thank you to all who were involved in this massive effort. I truly wish that those who had the opportunity would have take advantage of what Project Longevity has to offer. That being said, the New Haven communities that have and continue to suffer under the scourge of drug dealing appreciate your attention to our complaints and our information. The war is by no means over, but the battles won DO make a difference. Thank you Chief Reyes, Asst. Chief Jakobson and to all ... particularly to the gun-toting tango-dancing female officer in the photo in the shades!