BRIDGEPORT — A 26-year-old member of a violent street gang in Bridgeport was sentenced today to 78 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for his role in gang-related criminal activities, including narcotics trafficking and acts of violence.
Jauwan Edwards, known as “Yaya,” received his sentence from U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley.
The sentencing was announced by officials including United States Attorney Vanessa Roberts Avery and Bridgeport Police Chief Roderick Porter.
Investigations by the FBI, ATF, DEA, U.S. Marshals Service, Connecticut State Police, and the Bridgeport Police have been focusing on Bridgeport-based gangs such as the Original North End (“O.N.E.”), to which Edwards belonged.
The gang, operating out of the Trumbull Gardens area, was involved in violent confrontations with rival gangs, narcotics sales, and other criminal activities, often coordinated through social media.
Evidence from social media and text messages indicated Edwards’s involvement in the possession and sale of illegal firearms and drugs, including fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine.
Additionally, he was implicated in the theft of vehicles used in crimes, such as a Lexus Rx350 stolen from Rye, New York, and used in a homicide.
Edwards was arrested on July 27, 2021, with a subsequent search of his residence revealing drugs packaged for distribution and a loaded firearm.
He has been in custody since his arrest and pleaded guilty to one count of racketeering conspiracy on June 30.
The broader investigation has led to the convictions of approximately 47 members and associates of various gangs, solving multiple murders and attempted murders.
This case is part of the Justice Department’s initiatives including Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), Project Longevity, and the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) to combat violent crime and dismantle criminal organizations.
