Alleged Drug Kingpin Pleads Guilty in Federal Court

From United States Attorney David B. Fein: 

A New Haven man police say headed up a major narcotics trafficking ring pleaded guilty Friday in New Haven federal court to cocaine charges.

Joseph Jackson, 37, also known as “Mighty” and “M.I.,” pleaded guilty before United States Magistrate Judge Joan G. Margolis in New Haven to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, 280 grams or more of cocaine base (“crack cocaine”).

The arrest stemmed from a joint law enforcement investigation conducted in 2010 by the FBI New Haven Safe Streets Task Force, the DEA New Haven Task Force, the New Haven Police Department and the Hamden Police Department.  Through the use of court-authorized wiretaps, investigating officers identified and dismantled a large drug trafficking organization that was headed by Jackson and centered in the Newhallville section of New Haven and Hamden. 

At the time, Jackson was one of the principal suppliers of crack cocaine in and around New Haven.  The investigation revealed that Jackson purchased multiple kilograms of cocaine from various sources of supply, and then converted a large majority of the cocaine into crack cocaine. He then provided distribution quantities of crack to others who sold it on his behalf and gave the proceeds to him.  At times, he sold crack and powder cocaine to his own customers.        

Jackson was arrested on Oct. 28, 2010, when federal agents executed search warrants at various locations, including Jackson’s residence on Winchester Avenue in New Haven and a West Haven apartment that he used to process, store and package narcotics. 

A search of the Winchester Avenue residence revealed a Taurus .40 caliber pistol with an obliterated serial number, crack cocaine and cash.  A search of the West Haven apartment revealed one kilogram of cocaine, 150 grams of crack packaged for distribution, multiple cell phones, drug packaging materials and cash.        

Jackson is scheduled to be sentenced by Senior United States District Judge Ellen Bree Burns on May 2, at which time he faces a minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life. If the binding plea agreement filed today is accepted by the Court, Jackson will be sentenced to 25 years of imprisonment. Jackson also has agreed to forfeit two automobiles and two motorcycles seized during the investigation.

Forty-seven individuals have been charged in federal court with various narcotics offenses as a result of this investigation. This matter was investigated by the FBI New Haven Safe Streets Task Force (composed of members of the New Haven, Milford and Hamden Police Departments and the Connecticut Department of Correction), the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New Haven Task Force (composed of members of the New Haven, West Haven, Meriden, Ansonia, Hamden and Branford Police Departments), along with substantial participation by members of the New Haven and Hamden Police Departments.  The United States Marshals Service also has assisted the investigation.