9 Arrested In Drug Bust At Home In Stratford: Police

STRATFORD, CT — Nine people were arrested, including several convicted felons, on accusations of operating a drug factory after authorities executed a search warrant at a home in Stratford on Thursday, according to police.

The Stratford Police Department’s Narcotics, Vice and Intelligence Unit launched an investigation in October into ongoing “quality of life complaints” regarding a home on Kasper Circle in Stratford, according to Capt. Jerry Pinto.

Pinto said “numerous anonymous neighborhood complaints” said there was a lot of vehicular and foot traffic arriving at the residence at various hours of the day, evening, and overnight hours.

The complainants identified people from the residence conducting “hand to hand” narcotics transactions, according to Pinto. They also said that a man, who was living at the residence, was operating an illegal car repair shop and junk yard on the street and driveway of the home, according to Pinto.

“Neighbors reported that the auto repair work was interfering with their daily lives,” Pinto wrote in a news release. “It was reported there was constant loud noises from the various tools being operated during all hours, constant vehicle traffic, the frequent flow of tow trucks in and out, non-operable cars parked all over the street and other disturbances.”

Neighbors said that tow trucks would leave non-operable vehicles on Kasper Circle and the surrounding streets on a daily basis, according to Pinto.

Pinto said detectives conducted numerous surveillance operations, during various daytime, evening and late-night hours, that verified the complaints.

“Narcotics customers were briefly entering and exiting the residence,” Pinto wrote. “After the quick meetings the narcotic customers would separate and leave the area. Other narcotic customers appear to be using their drugs in close proximity to the residence. This behavior is consistent with street level narcotics trafficking and clearly was causing a decline in the quality of life for the residents of the neighborhood.”

Pinto said the NVI investigation into the home and its occupants, dovetailed into an investigation being conducted by the FBI Safe Streets Task Force in Bridgeport.

Personnel from both offices executed a search-and-seizure warrant at the home on Thursday, Jan. 23, according to Pinto.

Pinto said heroin, fentanyl, loaded syringes, narcotics materials, packaging, paraphernalia were all seen in plain view and subsequently seized.

The following people were arrested:

Joseph Villafane, 28, who is a convicted felon, was charged with illegal operation of a drug factory, illegal possession of drug paraphernalia illegal possession of a narcotic substance, and interfering with police.

Pinto said he tried to flee during the search and subsequently suffered a non-life threatening K9 dog bite. He was treated by Stratford EMS personnel on-scene and refused hospital transportation, according to Pinto.

He was also wanted by Stratford police on two outstanding arrest warrants for failure to appear, according to Pinto.

Pinto said Villafane was also wanted by the East Haven Police Department on a warrant for criminal impersonation, and the Milford Police Department on a warrant for interfering with police. He was being held in lieu of a $70,000 bond with a court date of Feb. 6.

Jessica Villafane, 47, who is a convicted felon, was charged with illegal possession of drug paraphernalia, illegal operation of a drug factory and illegal possession of a narcotics substance. She was being held in lieu of a $20,000 bond with a court date of Feb. 6.

Alberto Otero, 54, a convicted felon, was charged with illegal possession of drug paraphernalia, illegal operation of a drug factory and illegal possession of a narcotics substance. He was being held in lieu of a $25,000 bond with a court date of Feb. 6.

Phillip Lacharite, 46, a convicted felon, was charged with illegal possession of drug paraphernalia, illegal operation of a drug factory and illegal possession of a narcotics substance, illegal operation of a repair business and illegal operation of a motor vehicle junk/recycle yard. He was being held in lieu of a $26,000 bond with a court date of Feb. 6.

Carey Accavallo, 48, was charged with illegal possession of drug paraphernalia, illegal operation of a drug factory and illegal possession of a narcotics substance and interfering with police. She was also wanted by Stratford police on a warrant for failure to appear. She was being held in lieu of a $65,000 bond with a court date of Feb. 6.

Jessica Luna, 35, was charged with illegal possession of drug paraphernalia, illegal operation of a drug factory and illegal possession of a narcotics substance. She was also wanted by the Southington Police Department on a warrant for disorderly conduct. She was being held in lieu of a $25,000 bond with a court date of Feb. 6.

Amanda Gregory, 39, was charged with illegal possession of drug paraphernalia, illegal operation of a drug factory and illegal possession of narcotics substance. She was being held in lieu of a $25,000 bond with a court date of Feb. 6.

Christopher Going, 47, a convicted felon, was charged with illegal possession of drug paraphernalia, illegal operation of a drug factory, illegal possession of a narcotics substance and interfering with police. He was also wanted by Stratford police on a warrant for failure to appear. He was being held in lieu of a $50,000 bond with a court date of Feb. 6.

Garfield Howell, 35, a convicted felon, was charged with illegal possession of drug paraphernalia, illegal operation of a drug factory and illegal possession of a narcotics substance. He was being held in lieu of a $25,000 bond with a court date of Feb. 6.