Joshua Gilbert, 24, known as “Lor Heavy,” was sentenced to 40 years in federal prison and three years of supervised release for his role in a violent Bridgeport street gang. The sentencing took place before U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport.
The announcement was made by David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut; Joseph T. Corradino, State’s Attorney for the Fairfield Judicial District; Bridgeport Police Chief Roderick Porter; P.J. O’Brien, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Bryan DiGirolamo, Acting Special Agent in Charge, ATF Boston Field Division; Jarod Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England; and Acting Chief Deputy U.S. Marshal John Iverson.
According to court records and statements during proceedings, federal and local law enforcement agencies have been investigating several gangs based in Bridgeport involved in drug trafficking and violent crimes. Gilbert belonged to the Original North End (O.N.E.) gang operating from Trumbull Gardens in Bridgeport. This group carried out violent acts against rival gangs such as East End, East Side, West End, and PT Barnum gangs. Members also robbed drug dealers and customers, sold narcotics, stole cars from both inside and outside Connecticut—sometimes using these vehicles to commit further crimes—and used social media to coordinate activities.
In November 2019, members of O.N.E., including Gilbert, stole a Lexus Rx350 from Rye, New York. In December that year, they were involved in multiple shootings around Bridgeport. During one incident outside a home in Bridgeport, a rival gang member’s mother was shot. On December 8th of that year, using the stolen Lexus at the P.T. Barnum Housing Complex resulted in damaged vehicles before driving it to Newfield Avenue where Ty’Quess Moore (“Breezo”), age 18, was shot and killed by Gilbert and other O.N.E. members.
Members posted videos on social media displaying firearms and referencing rivals who had been killed.
Gilbert has remained detained since his arrest on July 19th, 2021. A jury convicted him of racketeering conspiracy on November 21st, 2023.
Through this investigation into several gangs based in Bridgeport—including efforts by local police departments across Connecticut and parts of New York—about 47 individuals were convicted on federal charges related to eight murders and about twenty attempted murders.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karen L. Peck, Jocelyn C. Kaoutzanis, Stephanie T. Levick, and Rahul Kale with support from numerous law enforcement agencies throughout Connecticut and neighboring states.
This prosecution falls under initiatives like Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), Project Longevity as well as Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) programs.
