Luis Garcia, known as "Ebk Lou," has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. This sentencing was handed down by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley. Garcia, 27, of Bridgeport, was involved in the Original North End ("O.N.E.") gang, implicated in violent acts against rival gangs in the area.
The sentencing comes as part of an extensive investigation into Bridgeport-based gangs by various law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, ATF, DEA, and local police. These groups have engaged in narcotics trafficking, murders, and other violent activities. "Today’s announcement was made by Marc H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut; Joseph T. Corradino, State’s Attorney for the Fairfield Judicial District; Bridgeport Police Chief Roderick Porter; Anish Shukla, Acting 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; Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England, and Acting U.S. Marshal Lawrence Bobnick."
According to court documents, O.N.E. members engaged in robberies, sold narcotics, and stole vehicles, which were often used to commit crimes. They also utilized social media to coordinate their illegal activities. A key incident involved Garcia and other O.N.E. members stealing a Jeep Grand Cherokee, using it in a shooting on Stratford Avenue where Len Smith, 25, was mistakenly killed. "Although that plan fell through, in the early morning hours of August 13, 2018, Garcia, Ta’Ron Pharr, and Lorenzo Carter drove the stolen Jeep to Stratford and Union Avenues in Bridgeport where they shot and killed Len Smith, 25, who they mistook for a rival East End group member."
Garcia has been detained since his arrest on September 8, 2021, and pleaded guilty in September 2023 to racketeering charges. This case involves 47 members or associates facing federal convictions from the investigation, which has resolved eight murders and numerous attempted murders.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karen L. Peck, Jocelyn C. Kaoutzanis, Stephanie T. Levick, and Rahul Kale are handling the prosecution. The case forms part of the Justice Department's Project Safe Neighborhoods, Project Longevity, and Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces programs aimed at crime reduction and public safety.
"This investigation has been conducted by the FBI’s Safe Streets and Violent Crimes Task Forces, ATF, DEA, U.S. Marshals Service, Bridgeport Police Department, Connecticut State Police, and the Bridgeport State’s Attorney’s Office, with the assistance of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Connecticut Forensic Science Laboratory, Waterbury Police Department, and Naugatuck Police Department."
Project Safe Neighborhoods is designed to reduce violent crime, Project Longevity addresses gun violence, and the OCDETF program aims to dismantle drug traffickers and criminal organizations. More information on OCDETF can be accessed at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
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