Bridgeport Man Sentenced In Murder/Arson Scheme: U.S. Attorney

BRIDGEPORT, CT — A 39-year-old Bridgeport man was sentenced to 10 years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for his role in a plan to murder an individual and set fire to the Bridgeport business where he worked, announced U.S. Attorney Vanessa Roberts Avery.

Jason Scott, also known as "Hood," was sentenced Tuesday by U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport.

Scott pleaded guilty in March to possession of a firearm by a felon, and was one of five men who pleaded guilty to the scheme.

According to court documents and statements, in the early morning hours of April 2, 2018, Bridgeport Police patrolling the west side of Bridgeport attempted to stop a car that was operating with unlit taillights. The car fled from police and, during the police pursuit, officers observed several items being thrown from its windows, prosecutors said.

From the announcement:

After the car stopped several blocks away, officers arrested Luis Mercado, who was driving the car, and Dominick Gonzalez, and recovered two loaded handguns and a quantity of marijuana that had been thrown from the car. A search of the car also revealed a black ski mask, a pair of binoculars, and a container of gasoline. The investigation revealed that Mercado, Gonzalez, Scott, Luis Mejias and George Rivera were involved in a plan to murder an individual and set fire to the Wood Avenue Body Shop in Bridgeport where the individual worked.

Scott, Mejias and Rivera were arrested later that morning at a hotel in Milford. A search of a hotel room revealed a loaded Smith and Wesson model M&P 15-22 caliber rifle, a loaded Taurus "Judge" revolver, a loaded Anderson Manufacturing AR 15 multi-caliber rifle, a loaded 12-gauge shotgun, additional ammunition, brass knuckles, binoculars, gloves and a knit mask. Investigators also located a seized packaged heroin, ecstasy pills, marijuana, a digital scale and other items in the room, and ammunition and shotgun shells in the trunk of their car.

Each defendant has a criminal history that includes multiple felony convictions. It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce.

Mercado, Gonzalez, Mejias and Rivera also pleaded guilty. On June 27, 2022, Mercado and Mejias were each sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment. Gonzalez and Rivera await sentencing.

This matter has been investigated by the FBI’s Bridgeport Safe Streets Task Force and the Bridgeport and Milford Police Departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen L. Peck.