11 people charged with southwest Connecticut drug trafficking, firearms offenses

Eleven people have been charged with federal offenses stemming from their alleged involvement in drug trafficking in southwest Connecticut:

• Rodney Canada, aka “Supreme,” 47, of Stamford
• Terrell Wills, aka “Black Fred,” 50, of Darien
• Ramion Baker, aka “Ray Ray,” 43, of Stamford
• Willi Bazelais, 30, of Stamford
• Christopher Adams, 57, of Norwalk
• Gerald Coley, aka “G Rock,” 54, of Bridgeport
• Benjamin Dozier, aka “Ace” and “Blanco, 42, of Bridgeport
• Danny Turkvan, aka “Smooth” 53, of Stamford
• Gavin Hammett, aka “G” and “Silk,” 59, of Bridgeport
• Jimmy Arce, aka “Boe,” “Slim” and “Jimbo,” 40, of Bridgeport
• Omar Parra, aka “D” and “Dee,” 37, of Stamford

As court documents and statements made in court allege, the Drug Enforcement Administration's Bridgeport High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force and the Stamford Police Department identified Canada as the leader of a drug trafficking organization that distributed large quantities of fentanyl, heroin, cocaine and crack cocaine in Stamford and elsewhere in southwest Connecticut. The investigation, which included court-authorized wiretaps and controlled purchases of narcotics, revealed that Wills and Baker helped Canada coordinate street-level narcotics distribution through Coley, Dozier , Turkvan and others. Canada also sold large quantities of cocaine to Bazelais and Adams for further distribution. Hammett is believed to have served as a supply source for the Canadian drug trafficking organization, and Arce was a criminal associate of Canada who supplied Parra with fentanyl, cocaine and crack cocaine.

On May 14, 2024, the defendants, except Parra, were arrested on federal criminal complaints, and others were arrested on state charges. On that date, investigators conducted court-authorized searches in Stamford, Norwalk, Bridgeport and Darien and seized approximately three kilograms of cocaine, nearly 400 grams of crude fentanyl, more than 500 bags of fentanyl, five firearms , a bulletproof vest, and seven vehicles. Parra has been held in federal prison since March 19, 2024, when he was arrested following a complaint.

On May 22, 2024, a federal grand jury in New Haven returned three separate indictments charging all 11 defendants. In an indictment, Canada, Wills, Baker, Bazelais, Adams, Coley, Dozier and Turkvan are charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, cocaine and heroin , an offense punishable by a maximum sentence of 20 years. years of imprisonment. The indictment also charges Adams and Baker with possession with intent to distribute cocaine, punishable by up to 20 years in prison; Baker and Dozier for illegal possession of a firearm by a felon, punishable by up to 15 years in prison; and Baker for possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, which carries a mandatory consecutive sentence of at least five years. It is alleged that Baker's criminal history includes a federal conviction for trafficking crack cocaine.

The second indictment charges Hammett with possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and a quantity of fentanyl, an offense punishable by a mandatory minimum prison term of five years and a sentence of maximum imprisonment of 40 years; illegal possession of a firearm by a felon; and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. It is alleged that Hammett's criminal history includes federal convictions in the District of South Carolina and the District of Connecticut for cocaine trafficking offenses, and he is currently on federal supervised release for the prior District of Connecticut conviction.

The third indictment charges Arce and Parra with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, 500 grams or more of cocaine, and a quantity of heroin, an offense punishable by a mandatory minimum prison sentence of five years. years and a maximum prison term of 40 years. Additionally, Arce is charged with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, and Parra is charged with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine, unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, and possession of a firearm in connection with a drug trafficking crime.

All the accused are currently detained.

“We are committed to using federal law enforcement resources to stem the flow of deadly narcotics into southwest Connecticut and throughout our state,” said U.S. Attorney Avery. “Given that firearms are commonly used in the distribution of illegal drugs, this is of increased concern. We intensify our efforts when individuals who have previously been involved in the federal justice system choose to continue their criminal activities when they re-enter the community. I thank the DEA Task Force, the Stamford Police Department, and all agencies that assisted in this investigation. Their work makes Connecticut safer.

“The illegal distribution of drugs is ravaging the very foundations of our families and communities here in Connecticut,” said DEA Acting Special Agent in Charge Stephen P. Belleau. “Let these arrests and seizures serve as an example to those who distribute poisons like fentanyl, heroin, crack and cocaine that the DEA will aggressively pursue and hold you accountable.” This investigation demonstrates the strength and continued commitment of our local, state and federal law enforcement partners here in Connecticut, as well as our strong relationship with the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

“This extensive case is an example of the teamwork between numerous federal and municipal law enforcement partners that led to the arrests of numerous suspects who supplied large quantities of illegal narcotics to the South- western Connecticut,” Stamford Deputy Police Chief Richard Conklin said. “Many of the suspects have extensive drug criminal histories, and several illegal firearms were seized. Large-scale, team-led investigations like this will certainly make Connecticut a safer place for everyone.

U.S. Attorney Avery emphasized that an indictment is merely an accusation and does not constitute proof of guilt. Charges are merely allegations and each defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This ongoing investigation is being conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration's Bridgeport High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force, the Stamford Police Department, the Bridgeport Police Department, and the U.S. Marshals Service, with assistance from Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Connecticut State Police and the Norwalk, Danbury and Darien police departments.

The DEA HIDTA Task Force includes personnel from the DEA Bridgeport Resident Office, the Connecticut State Police, and the police departments of Norwalk, Stamford, Stratford, Milford and Danbury.

The announcement of the charges was made by Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the New England Drug Enforcement Administration, and Stamford Police Chief Timothy Shaw.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patricia Stolfi Collins as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal law enforcement , state and local.

Additional information about the OCDETF program can be found at