17 Indicted In Connection With Waterbury Drug Dealing: Feds

WATERBURY, CT — Seventeen people have been charged following an investigation into drug dealing in the Waterbury area, according to a statement from federal prosecutors.

For the last 10 months, the DEA New Haven Task Force and Waterbury Police Department have been investigating a drug trafficking organization accused of dealing large amounts of heroin, cocaine and crack.

The following people were indicted on a charge of conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, heroin, cocaine and cocaine base (“crack”):

Zacharay Lee Foster, aka "Lee," 54, of Waterbury

Jazon Metz, aka "Jay," 51, of Naugatuck

James Grant, aka "Bobo," "Bo," and "Jimbo," 56, of Waterbury

Derek Metz, 31, of Waterbury

Jesus Nieves, aka "Pop," 37, of Waterbury

Algeny Paulino, aka "Chico" and "Lying Queen," 32, of Bronx, NY

Eddie Smalls, aka "Pooch," 47, of Waterbury

Sherman Peters, aka "Red," 36, of Waterbury

Latasha Slaughter, aka "Tash," 42, of Waterbury

Lawrence Jackson, 24, of Waterbury

Adam Mines, aka "White Boy," 37, of Waterbury

Hector Diaz, 23, of Waterbury

Lechard Santos, 31, Waterbury

Keon Council, 43, of Waerbury

Rondell Maurice Wright, aka "Reese," 52, of Waterbury

Isaac Wilson, aka "Ike," 24, of Waterbury

Chascity Perez, 25, of Waterbury

In connection with the arrests arrests, police seized about 40,000 bags of suspected heroin, 350 grams of cocaine, and 50 grams of crack cocaine.

Investigators also seized nine guns, including an AK-47-style rifle.

If convicted, those charged will face mandatory minimum prison sentences of 5 to 10 years and maximum prison sentences of 40 years to life.

"More Connecticut residents lost their lives to overdoses in 2020 than in any year previously and the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners are committed to using the full force of federal law to investigate and prosecute those responsible for trafficking these deadly drugs," Acting U.S. Attorney Leonard Boyle said in a statement.