Hamden Man Among 16 Arrested In Federal Drug Sting

BRIDGEPORT, CT — A total of 16 people from various towns have been charged with federal offenses linked to heroin, cocaine, crack and opioid sales in Southern Connecticut. Law enforcement seized more than $300,000 in cash from just one of the arrestees. Several raids yielded drugs and weapons.

The investigation was started by the FBI Bridgeport Safe Streets Task Force and Bridgeport Police Department in the summer of 2017. Wiretaps, controlled purchases, surveillance and search warrants were used to build cases against the arrestees.

The 16 people were indicted by a grand jury and most were arrested last week.

The following people were charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin:

• Louie McDowell, 45, of Seymour
• Antonio Small aka "Tone" and "Bert," 27, of Naugatuck
• Evan Sheffield aka "Smooth," 32 of Bridgeport
• Christopher Rodriguez aka "Rico," 30, of Hamden
• Jesse Papcun aka "Steve," 30, Of Stratford
• Allison McAuliffe, 28, of Fairfield
• Shawn Jobbagy, 27, of Bridgeport
• Allison Colvavito, 31, of Trumbull

McDowell and Small conspired to distribute at least a kilogram of heroin, Sheffield and Rodriguez conspired to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin, and Papcun, McAuliffe, Jobbagy and Colavito conspired to distribute heroin, according to the indictment.

McDowell's residence was raided on Nov. 6, 2018 and about a kilogram of cocaine, 100 grams of heroin, narcotic paraphernalia, five firearms, ammunition and more than $129,000 in cash was seized, according to the U.S. Attorney District of Connecticut office.. Another $217,000 in cash was seized from a safe deposit box that belonged to McDowell.

Nearly $3,000 in cash and heroin was seized from Sheffield's residence, $1,770 in cash and a Rolex watch were seized from Small's residence and narcotics, firearms and other weapons were seized from Papcun's residence, according to the attorney's office.

The following people were charged with possession with intent to distribute various controlled substances:

• Kevin Jones II aka "Ox" and "Scott," 26, of Bridgeport
• Luis Martinez aka "Macho," 53, of Stratford
• Shawn Woodard, 27 of Bridgeport
• Donald Lawlor, 38, of Norwalk
• Phillip Chiaia, 31, of Norwalk
• Julian Delepine, 41, of Wilton
• Kevin Jones Sr., 54, of Farmington

A search of Jone's II home yielded more than $2,800 in cash, jewelry and an ounce of gold. More than $11,000 was seized from Martinez's residence.

Harvel Carter aka "Tec,", 25, of Bridgeport was charged with possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, heroin, and one count of possession with intent to distribute heroin. More than $1,400 in cash and two loaded handguns were seized from his residence, according to the U.S. attorney's office.

Image via Shutterstock