Constitution State News

Justin Cabrera, also known as "J.U.," 25, of Waterbury, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to offenses stemming from his participation in the 960 gang, a violent Waterbury street gang.

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 Cabrera and 15 other alleged 960 gang members with racketeering, narcotics trafficking, firearm possession, murder, attempted murder and assault, and obstruction of justice offenses.

Cabrera pleaded guilty to one count of attempted murder and assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering and one count of carrying and using a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.

On October 31, 2017, 960 members shot and wounded an individual in an attempt to murder members of a rival gang. In pleading guilty, Cabrera admitted that he operated one of the vehicles used in the shooting.

Judge Dooley scheduled sentencing for December 9 at which time Cabrera faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life.

Cabrera has been detained since September 16, 2021.

This investigation has been conducted by the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force; Waterbury Police Department; ATF; U.S. Marshals Service; Southington Police Department; Watertown Police Department; New Milford Police Department; Connecticut State Police; Connecticut Department of Correction; Connecticut Forensic Science Laboratory; and DEA Laboratory. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. 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 from the Waterbury State’s Attorney’s Office who have been cross-designated as Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys.

This prosecution is part of the Justice Department's Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) and Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) programs.

PSN is a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and communities they serve to reduce gun violence and other violent crime while making 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 initially,set focused strategic enforcement priorities,and measure results.For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods visit www.justice.gov/psn.

OCDETF identifies disrupts,and dismantles drug traffickers,money launderers,gangs,and transnational criminal organizations through prosecutor-led,intelligence-driven approaches leveraging strengths offederal,state,and local law enforcement agencies.Additional information about OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.