Date: 03-08-2016

Case Style: United States of America v. Michael Morrison

Case Number: 3:14-cr-00081-JAM

Judge: Jeffrey Alker Meyer

Court: United States District Court for the District of Connecticut

Plaintiff's Attorney: John H. Durham and Peter S. Jongbloed

Defendant's Attorney: Walter C. Bansley, IV for Kyrin-Robert Jackson

Richard R. Brown for Neheliah Barnett

Vito A. Castignoli for Tyshawn McDade

E. Gregory Cerritelli for Iris Perez

Heather Clark for Afesha Manoo

Claire Elise Coleman for Melkuan Scott

Richard S. Cramer for Ricardo Howe

Donald J. Cretella, Jr. for Gabriel Horace Williams-Bey

Jonathan J. Einhorn for Horace Starks, Jr.

Cheryl E. Heffernan for Rashawn Dubose

Gerald M. Klein for Jeff Antoine

W. Theodore Koch, III for Gabriel Horace Williams-Bey

Bruce D. Koffsky for Shaqille Brown

Nancy E. Martin for Arnold Thompson

Joseph W. Martini for Melkuan Scott

David A. Moraghan for Rashawn Hill

Allison Murray Near for Raquim Smith

Francis L. O'Reilly for Jamie Coleman

Robert P. Pickering for Tafarie Green

Diane Polan for Arthur Stanley

Steven B. Rasile for Gregory Thomas

Peter J. Schaffer for Jerrod Hall

Alexander H. Schwartz for Jason Watson

Michael O. Sheehan for Raquim Smith

Justin T. Smith for Akeem Manoo

Alan J. Sobol for Jamal Howell

Robert J. Sullivan, Jr. for Michael Morrison

Jeremy N. Weingast for Raymond Rivera

Daniel E. Wenner for Melkuan Scott

Description: Hartford Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Gang-Related Narcotics Trafficking

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that MICHAEL MORRISON, also known as “Nazzie,” 26, of Hartford, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Alker Meyer in New Haven to 24 months of imprisonment, followed by one year of supervised release, for trafficking narcotics.

According to court documents and statements made in court, this matter stems from a year-long joint law enforcement investigation headed by the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Violent Crimes Task Force into narcotics trafficking by members and associates of WestHell street gang, and gang-related violent activity. The investigation, which included the use of court-authorized wiretaps, controlled purchases of narcotics and physical surveillance, identified Melkuan Scott, also known as “Young God,” “Mel,” “Young” and “YG,” as the leader of the West Hell street gang who, along with his associates, distributed crack cocaine in the Westland Street area of Hartford.

MORRISON regularly received “8-ball” quantities (3.5 grams) of crack cocaine from members of the conspiracy and sold the drug to others.

MORRISON was arrested on May 7, 2014. On April 17, 2015, he pleaded guilty to using a telephone to facilitate a narcotics trafficking offense. He has been detained since January 26, 2016, when his bond was revoked.

Twenty-five individuals were charged as a result of the investigation. One defendant was convicted after trial and 23 defendants pleaded guilty to various offenses. One defendant was shot and killed while his case was pending. Scott pleaded guilty and awaits sentencing.

This matter has been investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Northern Connecticut Violent Crimes Task Force, Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Marshals Service and Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division. The FBI Task Force includes members of the Hartford Police Department, East Hartford Police Department, Connecticut State Police and Connecticut Department of Correction. The Hartford Police Department’s Vice and Narcotics Squad, Major Crimes Unit and Shooting Task Force are providing valuable assistance to the investigation, and the Capitol Region Emergency Response Team (CREST) assisted with the arrest of certain defendants.

Outcome: See Above

Plaintiff's Experts:

Defendant's Experts:

Comments: