Hartford Man Indicted For Role In Gun Ring: Feds

HARTFORD, CT — A Hartford man was one of five men indicted in federal court for involvement in a national firearms trafficking ring as well as multiple drug charges.

Federal officials Friday announced the May 31, 19-count indictment of Algelly Diaz, 40, of Hartford, who was joined by Luis Perez, 44, of Waterbury, as well as male suspects from Kansas and California.

The quintent was charged by a federal grand jury in Hartford with firearms trafficking, conspiracy and additional offenses, according to federal officials.

Friday's announcement was made by Vanessa Roberts Avery, U.S. Attorney for Connecticut; Robert Fuller, 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; Michael J. Krol, acting special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), New England; and Ketty Larco-Ward, inspector in charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division.

Officials said a joint investigation revealed Perez was acquiring firearms that were purchased by co-conspirators in Kansas and shipped through the mail to a stash location Diaz maintained in Hartford.

Perez, Diaz and the remaining suspects were arrested on federal criminal complaints May 19.

Federal officials said a search of Perez’s Waterbury residence and vehicle revealed nine firearms; more than 200 rounds of ammunition; distribution quantities of cocaine, crack cocaine and fentanyl/heroin; items used to process and package narcotics for street sale; and more than $7,000 in cash.

Authorities said a search of Diaz’s residence revealed approximately 90 rounds of ammunition and a search of Pichardo’s residence revealed six firearms.

In addition, a court-authorized search of a package that was shipped to Diaz and seized from the mail stream revealed an additional three firearms, officials said.

All suspects are looking at the possibility of decades in jail for all of their offenses.

Perez and Diaz appeared Thursday, June 8, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert M. Spector in New Haven and entered pleas of not guilty to the charges against them and are detained.

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