Luis Garcia, also known as "Ebk Lou," of Bridgeport, has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for his involvement in a violent street gang in Bridgeport. The sentencing was carried out by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport.
The announcement was made by multiple law enforcement officials, including Marc H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Joseph T. Corradino, State’s Attorney for the Fairfield Judicial District. Other contributors included Bridgeport Police Chief Roderick Porter, Anish Shukla of the FBI, James Ferguson of the ATF, and Stephen Belleau of the DEA.
Several law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, ATF, DEA, and Bridgeport Police, have been investigating gangs in Bridgeport involved in drug trafficking, murder, and violence. Garcia was part of the Original North End (O.N.E.) gang, which was active in the Trumbull Gardens area and engaged in criminal activities against rival gangs such as the East End and East Side gangs. The gang also engaged in narcotics sales, car thefts, and robberies.
Investigations, including text and social media analysis, revealed Garcia's role in narcotics and firearm dealing, vehicle theft, and violent crimes. An incident on August 9, 2018, involved O.N.E. members stealing a Jeep Grand Cherokee in New York and using it in a murder attempt in Bridgeport. Although the initial plan failed, they mistakenly killed Len Smith, believing him to be a rival, and seriously injured another individual. They later burned the vehicle to destroy evidence.
Luis Garcia has been in custody since his arrest on September 8, 2021, and pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy on September 6, 2023. The ongoing investigation has resulted in the conviction of 47 members of various Bridgeport gangs, solving numerous murder cases.
The investigation was conducted by several task forces and law enforcement agencies, with the prosecution handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karen L. Peck, Jocelyn C. Kaoutzanis, Stephanie T. Levick, and Rahul Kale. The case also forms part of several initiatives by the Department of Justice aimed at reducing violent crime and dismantling criminal organizations.
