Waterbury Gang Member Pleads Guilty In Shooting Case

WATERBURY, CT — A gang member involved in shootings that killed and wounded innocent bystanders pleaded guilty to charges Wednesday, according to a statement from federal prosecutors. Jermaine Gilbert, 21, of Waterbury, pleaded guilty to racketeering, firearm possession and drug trafficking offenses stemming from his participation in a violent Waterbury street gang.

The case is the result of a long-term investigation into "960," a street gang operating in Waterbury’s north end. During the investigation, ATF, FBI and Waterbury Police investigators have analyzed dozens of shooting incidents between 960 members and members of rival gangs.

Some of the shootings resulted in innocent bystanders being killed or seriously wounded.

In pleading guilty, Gilbert, a member of 960, admitted that he and other members and associates of 960 dealt drugs and committed acts of violence, including murder and assaults, according to the statement.

Gilbert specifically admitted that, on Oct. 6, 2018, he and other 960 members intended to shoot a rival gang member who they believed had been disrespectful to 960, but instead wounded an innocent bystander.

On Oct. 11, 2018, Gilbert and his associates conspired to shoot another rival gang member, but instead killed an innocent bystander and paralyzed a second innocent bystander.

On Nov. 18, 2018, Gilbert and other 960 members shot and wounded the rival gang member who was their intended target on Oct. 6, 2018. During this shooting, another innocent bystander was wounded.

Gilbert has been detained since his arrest on May 17, 2019. At the time of his arrest, he possessed a .22 caliber Beretta pistol, a 9mm Taurus pistol, multiple rounds of ammunition, and heroin that he intended to distribute.

He faces a maximum term of life imprisonment.

“Through a reinvigorated Project Safe Neighborhoods program in Waterbury, the ATF, FBI and Waterbury Police have identified several reckless gang members who wreaked havoc in the city and killed or maimed not only each other, but, more important, multiple innocent bystanders,” U.S. Attorney John Durham said in a statement.