United States Drug Enforcement Administration

WATERBURY, Conn. - Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England, and Waterbury Police Chief Fernando Spagnolo today announced that a federal grand jury in New Haven has returned an eight-count indictment charging ROBERT HARRISON, also known as “Firm” and “Lox,” 38; RICHARD McDANIEL, also known as “Shay,” 44; KEVIN GOOCH, also known as “GWOP,” 41; and ROBERT LAVERTUE,56; all of Waterbury, with narcotics and firearm offenses.

The indictment was returned on October 2, 2024.  Harrison and Gooch, who have been detained since they were arrested on related state charges on June 20, 2024, appeared today in Hartford federal court and pleaded not guilty to the charges.  McDaniel and Lavertue were federally arrested and arraigned earlier this month and are released on bond.

As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, on June 20, 2024, the Drug Enforcement Administration New Haven Task Force and the Waterbury Police Department executed multiple federal search warrants for locations connected to a drug trafficking organization headed by Harrison.  A search of Harrison’s residence on Frost Road, his auto repair business on Todd Hollow Road in Waterbury, where Lavertue also resided, and a recording studio he operated on Woodtick Road in Waterbury, revealed distribution quantities of cocaine and narcotic pills, four loaded handguns, gun magazines, numerous rounds of ammunition, and approximately $18,208 in cash.  A search of McDaniel’s residence on Lone Oak Avenue revealed approximately 700 grams of cocaine, approximately 300 grams of fentanyl, drug processing and packaging materials, a money counter, and approximately $2,450 in cash.  Searches of Gooch’s residence on Atwood Avenue, his vehicle, and a residence on Monroe Avenue he used as a stash location revealed more than 100 grams of cocaine, a drug press, a loaded handgun with an obliterated serial number, and approximately $1,141 in cash.

The indictment charges each defendant with one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, and with one or more counts of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances.  If convicted of these charges, based on the type and quantities of controlled substances attributed to each defendant, McDaniel faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years, and Harrison, Gooch, and Lavertue face a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.  In addition, Harrison is charged with unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 15 years, and with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, which carries a consecutive term of imprisonment of at least five years.

U.S. Attorney Avery stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This matter is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration New Haven Task Force and the Waterbury Police Department.  The 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 case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Natasha M. Freismuth.