New Drug Charges Filed In Alleged Gun, Drug Ring

Ansonia PDAnsonia police lodged more drug charges Thursday against a woman accused of taking part in a gun and narcotics ring in the Valley.

Ashley Grant, 24, of Ansonia, was charged Thursday with possession of marijuana and possession with intent to sell.

Grant already faces charges of illegal sale of narcotics and illegal possession of narcotics.

Grant, one of eight people arrested last week in a multi-city police operation, was arrested for the new charges when she appeared in Superior Court in Derby Thursday.

Five of the eight arrested had court dates in Derby Thursday. 

The Bust

On April 13, Derby, Seymour and Shelton police charged a group of people with various drug and gun charges — including theft of a firearm and illegal sale of narcotics. 

Police believe the group was stealing guns to sell for drug money and also selling crack cocaine.

Police from the Valley towns launched an investigation after a gun was reported stolen from an office on Canal Street in Shelton April 2.

The arrests came after a sting operation in which Shelton police sold a gun to some of the suspects and after Seymour police served a search warrant on a home in Seymour believed to be a center of operations for the group. 

Derby police also arrested two people on warrants. 

Court

In brief court appearances Thursday, some of the cases were continued to various dates in May. 

I’m going to try to keep these cases together as best I can,” Judge Burton Kaplan said. 

Two of those arrested — Roosevelt Scott and Jason Walker — have obtained John Williams, a private attorney.

Defendants Ashley Grant and Carl Cheesboro have been appointed public defenders. 

The charges against defendant Keyshon Zimmerman have been transferred to Superior Court in Milford, where more serious cases are heard. 

Details

There are still few specific details about what police believe the suspects did. The warrants and arrest information has been sealed until at least April 27. 

The new arrest warrant for Grant has also been sealed. 

Derby police have said they believe at least one of the members of the group is connected to a homicide in Derby from September. 

In that incident, Rodney Baldwin was shot down while walking to the store one morning. 

No arrests have been made in connection with his murder. 

Suspects and Charges

Roosevelt Scott , 21, of Hamden

  • Two counts of carrying a pistol without a permit
  • Two counts of criminal possession of a firearm
  • Two counts of theft of a firearm
  • Two counts of sale of narcotics
  • Two counts of possession of narcotics within 1,500 feet of a school or daycare
  • Two counts of sale of narcotics within 1,500 feet of a school or daycare
  • Police said they seized two plastic bags with crack cocaine when they arrested Scott on a warrant after the alleged gun sale Sunday night.

Tyrone Daniels, 38, of Seymour

  • Criminal possession of a firearm
  • Theft of a firearm
  • Sale of narcotics
  • Carrying a pistol without a permit
  • Criminal possession of a firearm
  • Theft of a firearm
  • Sale of narcotics
  • Possession of narcotics within 1,500 feet of a school or daycare
  • Illegal sale of narcotics within 1,500 feet of a school or daycare
  • In Derby, he was charged with illegal sales of narcotics and illegal possession of narcotics

Keyshon Zimmerman, 24, of New Haven

  • Criminal possession of a firearm
  • Conspiracy to commit theft of a firearm
  • Conspiracy of illegal sale of narcotics
  • Conspiracy of sale of narcotics within 1,500 feet of a school or daycare

*Zimmerman remains in jail and will return to Milford Superior Court on May 18.

Ashley Grant, 24, of Ansonia

  • Illegal sales of narcotics
  • Illegal possession of narcotics
  • Ansonia police charged Grant Thursday with Illegal possession of marijuana and possession with intent to sell.

Loraina Chase, 28, Bridgeport

  • Weapons in motor vehicle
  • Possession of marijuana

Carl Cheeseboro, 46, of Ansonia

  • Possession of a firearm
  • Carrying a pistol without a permit
  • Illegal transfer of a pistol
  • Weapons in a motor vehicle

Jason Walker, 22, of Ansonia

  • Possession of less than 4 ounces of marijuana
  • Possession of drug paraphernalia

Javon Zimmerman, 20, of Ansonia

  • Possession of less than 4 ounces of marijuana
  • Possession of drug paraphernalia