Federal Grand Jury Indicts 16 New Haven Gang Members; West Haven Man Pleads Guilty in Drug Case

A federal grand jury in Bridgeport has returned a 19-count indictment charging 16 alleged members and associates of the Stand On Business or SOB street gang in New Haven with racketeering, murder, attempted murder, drug trafficking, firearms trafficking, and related offenses. In a separate case, Alton Small, 31, of West Haven, pleaded guilty to narcotics distribution and firearm possession offenses.

As a result of a long-term Homeland Security Task Force investigation into gang violence in New Haven, the indictment was returned on June 17. It was unsealed after Kerwin Romero, Brian Redd, Shyon Edwards, and Ja'Twan Robinson were arrested; they appeared in federal court and are detained. The other defendants are presently in state custody and will be arraigned in federal court at a later date.

According to court documents and statements made in court, the ATF, FBI, DEA, New Haven Police Department, Hamden Police Department, and Connecticut Department of Correction, working closely with the U.S. Attorney's Office and New Haven State's Attorney's Office, have been investigating an ongoing gang war. The SOB gang, which during its existence has also referred to itself as 'Get Back Gang,' 'Everybody Killers,' and 'EBK,' originated in the geographic area of New Haven known as the 'Hill' in the southwestern-most neighborhood of New Haven. The SOB gang has long-standing rivalries with other neighborhood gangs in New Haven, including the 'Exit 8' gang, '24-Hour Shorty,' 'Sleepy Land Bitches' or 'SLB,' and 'the 3s.' Violence between these groups is retaliatory in nature, and members of SOB are responsible for fatal and non-fatal shootings in the Exit 8 section and other areas of New Haven.

The indictment alleges that members and associates of SOB engaged in drug trafficking, used and shared firearms and machine gun conversion devices, and, since 2019, have committed at least two murders and numerous attempted murders. SOB members and associates promoted, coordinated, facilitated, and celebrated their criminal conduct, including acts of violence, through text messaging and the use of social media applications, and in rap songs and videos posted online.

The indictment charges Backman, Lowery, Raghubir, Romero, Redd, Beverly, Smith-Reed, Edwards, Cabasquini, Gomes, Johnson, and Brown with racketeering conspiracy. If convicted of this charge, Backman, Smith-Reed, and Brown face a maximum term of imprisonment of life, and the others face a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. The indictment also charges Backman, Redd, and Mundle with one or more counts of conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering, attempted murder in aid of racketeering, and use of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, all related to attempted murders on October 8, 2025. The racketeering offenses carry a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years, and the firearm offense carries a mandatory consecutive term of imprisonment of at least 10 years. In addition, the indictment charges Backman with illegal possession of a machine gun, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years, and with possession of a machine gun during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime, an offense that carries a mandatory consecutive term of imprisonment of at least 30 years; Robinson and Johnson with firearms trafficking related to their receipt of machine gun conversion devices.

Small, also known as 'Poodah,' 'Tiemare,' and 'Tie,' waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty before a U.S. District Judge in Bridgeport. According to court documents and statements made in court, a Drug Enforcement Administration New Haven District Office (NHDO) Task Force investigation identified Small as the leader of a drug trafficking organization that was distributing fentanyl and cocaine in the greater New Haven area. The investigation included the seizure of approximately two kilograms of cocaine in Ansonia on January 30, 2025, multiple controlled purchases of narcotics between March and June 2025, and other investigative techniques. Investigators also connected an overdose death to Small's drug trafficking activity.

Small was arrested on June 18, 2025. On that date, investigators searched several locations connected to Small and seized more than one kilogram of powder cocaine, more than 150 grams of crack cocaine, more than 200 grams of fentanyl, two loaded firearms, and additional ammunition. On August 20, 2026, while released on bond, Small was arrested by West Haven Police for narcotics possession and distribution offenses.

Small pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and 40 grams or more of fentanyl, and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. At sentencing, which is scheduled for November 17, he faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life. Small's bond was revoked and he is detained pending sentencing.

The NHDO Task Force includes members from the DEA, U.S. Marshals Service, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, Connecticut State Police and the New Haven, Waterbury, East Haven, Branford, West Haven, Ansonia, Meriden, Naugatuck, and Shelton Police Departments. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service has assisted the investigation.