New London Man Pleads Guilty to Charge Related to Homicide

A 27-year-old New London man pleaded guilty in court Thursday, Jan. 22, to a federal assault offense stemming from the September 2012 homicide of Javier Reyes, 36, of New London.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Andrew Aviles was an associate of a criminal organization that distributed marijuana, cocaine and other narcotics from the “Green Garages,” a series of garage bays located as 12/14 Walker Street in New London.

In the summer of 2011, the leader of the Green Garages organization was the intended victim of a murder-for-hire plot orchestrated by former members of his enterprise, in an attempt to take over narcotics distribution at the Green Garages, according to Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut.

The leader of the organization allegedly orchestrated the assault of Reyes, to maintain his leadership position. Aviles and Jose Rosado, Jr. were allegedly hired to carry out the assault of Reyes in exchange for cash.

On the evening of September 12, 2012, Reyes was stabbed multiple times outside of his apartment at 187 Huntington St. in New London and died a short time later. He also had blunt force trauma to the back of his head.

Video surveillance at the time of the attack shows Aviles and Rosado, carrying a bat, creeping toward Reyes and then running away from him about 15 seconds later.

Related Coverage

• Police Identify Murder Victim
• Indictment: Drug Kingpin Hired Men to Murder New London Man

Aviles admitted that he stabbed Reyes during the assault on Thursday, Jan. 22, Daly said. He pleaded guilty to violating the Travel Act by using a facility in interstate commerce, namely a cell phone, with the intent to commit a crime of violence in furtherance of an unlawful activity, and thereafter committed the crime of violence.

At sentencing, Aviles faces a maximum term of imprisonment of life. A sentencing date has not been set.

On July 22, 2014, Rosado, 20, of New London, pleaded guilty to a related charge and also awaits sentencing. Aviles and Rosado are currently detained.

The alleged leader of the Green Garages organization and the individual who allegedly recruited Aviles and Rosado have been indicted as a result of this investigation.

Daly stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This matter is being investigated by the New London Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with the assistance of the Connecticut State Police’s Eastern District Major Crime Squad, the Connecticut Department of Correction, Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Secret Service and the New London State’s Attorney’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anthony Kaplan and Sarah Karwan, and Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Paul Narducci.