A Waterbury man has been sentenced to 13 years in federal prison for his involvement in a violent carjacking and participation in a local drug trafficking organization. Ricardo Verdejo, also known as “Rick” and “Ricky,” age 27, received the sentence from U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport. Following his release, Verdejo will be subject to three years of supervised release.
According to court records and statements made during proceedings, the case began after two all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) were stolen from Emily Rodriguez’s residence in Waterbury on June 18, 2023. At the time, Rodriguez was living with Verdejo. In response to the theft, both posted messages on Facebook seeking information about the missing vehicles and offering a reward.
Verdejo and others then mistakenly identified an individual they believed responsible for the theft. That night, when this person (“Victim 1”) was being driven home by a friend (“Victim 2”), their vehicle was followed by three cars. Verdejo exited one of the vehicles carrying an assault-style rifle and confronted the victims along with several associates.
“Verdejo and his associates demanded the return of the stolen ATVs, threatened to kill the victims, and physically assaulted them. Verdejo smacked one victim in the head and then used the barrel of the rifle to strike both victims in the face.”
Afterward, Verdejo and his group stole Victim 2’s vehicle—owned by a relative—and other personal items including cash from both individuals. The harassment continued over subsequent days.
Verdejo was also charged alongside sixteen others following an investigation into two drug trafficking organizations operating out of Waterbury: one centered around William Street (where Verdejo participated) and another near Maple Avenue. Investigators used wiretaps, video surveillance, GPS tracking, and controlled narcotics purchases during their probe.
The organizations distributed cocaine, crack cocaine, and fentanyl through networks of sellers who sometimes shared suppliers and coordinated activities together.
Law enforcement arrested Verdejo on November 29, 2023; multiple search warrants executed at that time led to seizures including approximately 700 grams of crack cocaine; more than 900 vials of crack; about 200 grams of loose fentanyl; over 1,600 dose bags containing fentanyl or heroin; two stolen firearms; ammunition; and more than $39,000 cash.
Since his arrest, Verdejo has remained detained. He pleaded guilty on April 15, 2024 to conspiracy charges related to distributing controlled substances. On May 21, 2025 he entered additional guilty pleas for carjacking resulting in serious bodily injury as well as brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence.
Rodriguez has also pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentencing.
The investigations were conducted by federal task forces—including those led by the FBI—and local police departments under initiatives such as Safe Streets Gang Task Force programs. The carjacking prosecution is handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nathan J. Guevremont and David T. Huang; narcotics-related prosecution is managed by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Natasha M. Freismuth and Shan Patel through participation in the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program [https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF].
