Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Robert Fuller, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, announced that a federal grand jury in Hartford has returned an indictment charging Elijah Raffington, 21; Rajonne Blake, also known as “Ray Ray,” 25; Shasson Daniels, 20; and Mickyeem Profit, 21, all of Bridgeport, with robbery and firearm offenses stemming from gunpoint robberies of multiple retail stores and an Amazon delivery truck.
The indictment, which was returned under seal on July 11, 2024, alleges that:
– On December 15, 2022, Raffington and Profit committed a gunpoint robbery of Omega Deli at 999 Maplewood Avenue in Bridgeport.
– On December 21, 2022, Raffington, Daniels, and Profit committed a gunpoint robbery of Milford Convenience & Tobacco at 784 Boston Post Road in Milford.
– On December 23, 2022, Raffington, Daniels, Blake, Profit, and another individual committed a gunpoint robbery of an Amazon delivery truck and merchandise in Bridgeport.
– On December 23, 2022, Raffington, Daniels, and Profit committed a gunpoint robbery of Smoke Shop at 2175 Boston Avenue in Bridgeport.
– On January 2, 2023, Raffington, Daniels and Blake committed a gunpoint robbery of Cumberland Farms at 1290 West Broad Street in Stratford.
The six-count indictment charges each defendant with multiple counts of interference with commerce by robbery (“Hobbs Act robbery”), an offense carrying a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years on each count. Additionally,
Daniels and Profit are charged with carrying,
using,
and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence,
while Raffington and Blake are charged with aiding and abetting the same,
an offense carrying a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of seven years
and a maximum term of imprisonment for life.
The indictment was unsealed on August 1,
2024,
after Blake was arrested.
Raffington,
Daniels,
and Profit had been detained in state custody.
Each defendant was arraigned in New Haven federal court,
entered pleas of not guilty,
and were ordered detained.
U.S. Attorney Avery stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. “Charges are only allegations,” she said. “Each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.”
This matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation,
the Bridgeport Police Department,
the Stratford Police Department,
and the Milford Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathaniel J. Gentile.
The case is being prosecuted through Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN),
a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement
and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence
and other violent crime
to make neighborhoods safer for everyone.
In May 2021,
the Justice Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust
and legitimacy in communities;
supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring;
setting focused
and strategic enforcement priorities;
and measuring results.
For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods please visit www.justice.gov/psn.
