A Waterbury man has been sentenced to over 13 years in federal prison for his involvement in a violent carjacking and participation in a local narcotics trafficking ring. Ricardo Verdejo, also known as “Rick” and “Ricky,” age 27, received a sentence of 156 months’ imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release from U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport.
According to court documents and statements made during the proceedings, on June 18, 2023, two all-terrain vehicles were stolen from Emily Rodriguez’s residence in Waterbury. At the time, Rodriguez was living with Verdejo. Following the theft, both used Facebook to ask for information about the missing vehicles and offered money for leads. Verdejo and others mistakenly identified one individual as responsible for the theft.
Later that night, when this individual was being driven home by a friend, their vehicle was surrounded by three other cars. Verdejo, armed with an assault-style rifle, approached along with others. They demanded the return of the ATVs, threatened to kill the victims, and physically assaulted them—Verdejo struck one victim in the head and then used his rifle to hit both victims in the face.
The group stole one victim’s vehicle (owned by a relative), cash, and other items before continuing to harass them in subsequent days.
In addition to these events, Verdejo was charged alongside sixteen others after an investigation into two drug trafficking organizations operating out of Waterbury—one near William Street (where Verdejo was involved) and another near Maple Avenue. The investigation included wiretaps on multiple phones, video surveillance, GPS tracking of vehicles, and controlled purchases of narcotics. Authorities found that both groups distributed cocaine, crack cocaine, and fentanyl through networks of sellers; they also shared suppliers and collaborated operationally. More details about these types of investigations can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Verdejo was arrested on November 29, 2023. During related searches that day authorities seized approximately 700 grams of crack cocaine; more than 900 vials of crack; around 200 grams of loose fentanyl; over 1,600 dose bags containing fentanyl or heroin; two stolen firearms; ammunition; and more than $39,000 in cash.
Since his arrest Verdejo has remained detained. He pleaded guilty on April 15, 2024 to conspiracy to distribute—and possess with intent to distribute—controlled substances. On May 21, 2025 he pleaded guilty to carjacking resulting in serious bodily injury as well as brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence.
Emily Rodriguez also pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentencing.
The investigations were led by the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force along with Waterbury Safe Streets Gang Task Force and Waterbury Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nathan J. Guevremont and David T. Huang prosecuted the carjacking case while Assistant U.S. Attorneys Natasha M. Freismuth and Shan Patel handled prosecution for narcotics trafficking under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program.
