Travon Jones, known as "Budda," has been sentenced to 22 years and six months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. This decision was made today in U.S. District Court by Judge Victor A. Bolden in New Haven. Jones, aged 22, was involved with a violent street gang in Bridgeport and played a part in the murder of a rival gang member and the attempted murder of another.
Marc H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, led today's announcement. He was joined by several law enforcement leaders including Joseph T. Corradino, State’s Attorney for the Fairfield Judicial District, and Bridgeport Police Chief Roderick Porter, among others.
Law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, ATF, DEA, U.S. Marshals Service, and Bridgeport Police, have been investigating gangs in Bridgeport involved in drug trafficking and violent crimes. Jones was part of the "East End gang," a group that has expanded its presence beyond Bridgeport. The gang has been aligned with similar groups and opposed by rival organizations such as the "Original North End" and "Greene Homes Boyz."
The investigation into local gang violence began after the shooting of Myreke Kenion and the attempted killing of D'Andre Brown by East End members on January 26, 2020. In retaliation, members of the rival groups targeted East End affiliates the following day in a public shooting near a courthouse in Bridgeport.
Jones and his gang engaged in the distribution of drugs, the use of firearms, and acts of violence. They also used social media to boast about their activities and discouraged witnesses from cooperating with the police.
Evidence presented indicated Jones's involvement in the murder of Sean Warren and the attempted murder of Joshua Gilbert, both connected to rival gangs. Although Jones initially pleaded guilty, he withdrew his plea, and a jury later found him and three others guilty of conspiring to engage in organized criminal activities.
During the course of the investigation, approximately 47 individuals from the involved gangs were convicted, with the investigation linking them to eight murders and around 20 attempted murders.
Tyrone Moore, Jones's associate, previously pleaded guilty and received a sentence of 20 years and ten months.
The investigation was a collaborative effort involving multiple federal and local law enforcement groups. It falls under the umbrella of several frameworks designed to combat organized crime and reduce violent activities, including Project Safe Neighborhoods and Project Longevity, both aimed at crime reduction through local law enforcement partnerships and community collaboration.
For more information on these initiatives, OCDETF details are available at the Department of Justice website.