Constitution State News

Ezra Alves, also known as “EJ” and “Ezzy,” 24, and his brother, Ahmed Alves, also known as “Stones,” 26, both of Waterbury, were sentenced today in Bridgeport federal court for offenses related to their participation in a violent Waterbury street gang. U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley sentenced Ezra Alves to 252 months of imprisonment and five years of supervised release, and Ahmed Alves to 54 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release.

Today’s announcement was made by Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut; Maureen T. Platt, State’s Attorney for the Waterbury Judicial District; Robert Fuller, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Boston Field Division; and Waterbury Police Chief Fernando C. Spagnolo.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in an effort to address drug trafficking and related violence in Waterbury, the FBI, ATF, and Waterbury Police have been investigating multiple Waterbury-based groups, including the 960 gang. On September 14, 2021, a federal grand jury in Hartford returned a 36-count indictment charging Ezra Alves, Ahmed Alves, and 14 other 960 gang members with racketeering, narcotics trafficking, firearm possession, murder, attempted murder and assault, and obstruction of justice offenses.

On March 20, 2024, Ezra Alves pleaded guilty to one count of racketeering conspiracy; three counts of attempted murder and assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering; two counts of carrying and using a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence; and one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances.

Alves specifically admitted that he and other 960 members were engaged in drug trafficking and violent activity and conspired to shoot and murder members of rival gangs.

On September 21, 2018—retaliating for the murder of an associate—Ezra Alves participated with other gang members in a drive-by shooting at an occupied residence on Scott Road in Waterbury. On October 6 that year they attempted another drive-by shooting targeting rival gang members resulting in gunshot wounds to an individual. A similar incident occurred on November 18 when they again targeted rival gang members causing injuries.

Ezra Alves has been detained since November 15th while his brother Ahmed pleaded guilty on March 12 this year for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances as well as being an accessory after-the-fact post-shooting incident on November18th picking up shooters using stolen car transporting them stashing firearms later abandoning vehicle Meriden then picking them up again released $100k bond reporting prison October7th

The investigation involved collaboration among FBI Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force Waterbury PD ATF US Marshals Service supported by Southington Watertown New Milford PDs CT State Police Forensic Science Laboratory DEA Lab prosecuted by Assistant US Attorneys Geoffrey M Stone John T Pierpont Jr Natasha M Freismuth Supervisory Assistant State's Attorney Don E Therkildesen Jr Deputy Assistant State's Attorney Alexandra Arroyo cross-designated Special Assistant US Attorneys matter part Justice Department Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) programs PSN aims reduce gun violence make neighborhoods safer through law enforcement community partnerships launched May2021 OCDETF targets dismantles criminal organizations leveraging federal state local agency strengths

For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods visit www.justice.gov/psn Additional information about OCDETF Program available at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF