Vanessa Roberts Avery, U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut
A jury in Hartford has found three New Haven men guilty of charges related to counterfeit pill production and narcotics trafficking. The announcement was made by Marc H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut. Aquarius Gumbs, also known as "Q," "Ice," and "Diamond," 50; Gordon Lauria, 54; and Markos Pappas, also known as "Speedy," 51, were convicted of offenses connected to the large-scale distribution of fentanyl and methamphetamine pills disguised as legitimate prescription medication.
The case originated from an investigation by the DEA New Haven’s Tactical Diversion Squad and the FBI’s New Haven Safe Streets/Gang Task Force. They targeted the manufacture and distribution of counterfeit oxycodone tablets containing fentanyl and counterfeit Adderall tablets containing methamphetamine in the New Haven area. Willis Taylor coordinated these activities with assistance from Lauria, Pappas, Gumbs, and others. Taylor distributed pills to others and arranged transactions using Gumbs as a source of supply. After Taylor's arrest in November 2022, Pappas conspired with others to distribute controlled substances.
Investigators seized over two kilograms of fentanyl, including thousands of counterfeit Oxycodone tablets; approximately two kilograms of methamphetamine; three kilograms of cocaine; four pill-press machines; one industrial mixer; five firearms; and more than $200,000 in cash during their investigation. Two firearms and $13,250 in cash were seized from Gumbs on November 18, 2022.
Fourteen individuals faced charges due to this investigation. The jury found Lauria and Gumbs guilty on one count each, while Pappas was found guilty on two counts related to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. Gumbs was additionally convicted on several other charges including possession with intent to distribute cocaine.
Julio Echevarria was acquitted of conspiracy charges related to drug distribution.
Gumbs, Lauria, and Pappas remain detained pending sentencing dates which have not been scheduled yet. Taylor had previously pleaded guilty while Lisa Fausel received a sentence of 42 months imprisonment on October 21, 2024.
The matter is being investigated by multiple agencies including DEA New Haven’s Tactical Diversion Squad, FBI’s New Haven Safe Streets/Gang Task Force among others. The prosecution is handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ross Weingarten et al., through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program aimed at dismantling drug traffickers through collaboration between federal state local law enforcement agencies.
