United States Drug Enforcement Administration

NEW HAVEN, Conn. - John J. Arvanitis, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration in New England, Deirdre M. Daly, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Danbury Police Chief Alan D. Baker today announced that a federal grand jury sitting in Bridgeport has returned a superseding indictment charging 10 individuals with various conspiracy, robbery, firearms and drug offenses stemming from an investigation into a series of Danbury-area violent home invasion robberies of illegal drugs and drug trafficking proceeds.  The indictment was returned on October 9.

Charged in the 13-count superseding indictment are:

MARLON PATTERSON - , a.k.a. "Head," 20, of Danbury
MICHAEL SPEARS - , 23, of Danbury
ANTONIO PARKER - , a.k.a. "Little Buddha," 18, of Danbury
SCOTT MYRIE - , a.k.a. "Venom," 26, of Bedford Hills, N.Y.
CASEY KERSHAW - , 25, of Danbury
ROBERT CHERRY - , a.k.a. "Rob Base," 43, of Danbury
PAUL WHITEHURST - , a.k.a. "Juice," 23, of Bridgeport
KEVIN LEMON - , a.k.a. "Cheese," 20, of Bridgeport
LAQUANNA BRIGGS - , 21, of Danbury

Nine of the 10 defendants charged in the indictment have been arrested and one defendant is currently being sought by law enforcement.

The indictment alleges that Patterson, Spears, Myrie, Kershaw and another defendant committed the armed robbery of narcotics and narcotics trafficking proceeds from a victim on January 30, 2013, and subsequently possessed with intent to distribute a quantity of marijuana.  The indictment further alleges that Patterson, Spears and another defendant committed the armed robbery of narcotics and narcotics trafficking proceeds from a victim on February 14, 2013, and that Patterson, Spears, Parker, Myrie and Cherry committed the armed robbery of narcotics and narcotics trafficking proceeds from a victim on February 18, 2013.

Patterson, Spears, Parker, Myrie, Kershaw and Cherry are each charged with one or more counts of conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery, interference with commerce by robbery, and use of firearm during and in relation to crimes of violence.  The robbery charges carry a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, and the firearm charge carries a mandatory seven-year sentence consecutive to any other term of imprisonment imposed.  The marijuana distribution charge against Patterson, Spears, Myrie and Kershaw carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years.

In addition, the indictment alleges that Paterson, Spears, Whitehurst, Lemon and Briggs conspired to distribute 280 grams or more of cocaine ("crack"), a charge that carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life.

Finally, the indictment alleges that Whitehurst and Lemon possessed with intent to distribute cocaine base, and that Lemon possessed with intent to distribute a quantity of heroin.  Each of these charges carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.

Acting U.S. Attorney Daly 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's New Haven Task Force and the Danbury Police Department.  The DEA Task Force includes personnel from the New Haven, Hamden, West Haven, North Haven, Branford, Ansonia and Meriden Police Departments.