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Press Release

Hartford Man Pleads Guilty to Murder

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Connecticut

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JIMEL FRANK, also known as “30” and “Velly,” 28, of Hartford, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Janet Bond Arterton in New Haven to committing the murder of Anthony Parker of Hartford in April 2011.

This matter stems from a long-term investigation being conducted by the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Violent Crimes Task Force, DEA and Hartford Police Department into narcotics trafficking by members and associates of the Westhell and Team Grease groups and group-related violent activity.  The Cold Case Unit of the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney is actively participating in the investigation.

At approximately 10:47 a.m. on the morning of April 6, 2011, the Hartford Police Department received a report of shots fired in the vicinity of 15 Thomaston Street in the Blue Hills Section of Hartford.  Officers responding to the scene located Anthony Parker, also known as “Smooth,” 24, seated in the driver’s seat of a vehicle in the driveway of 15 Thomaston Street.  Parker was unconscious and suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.  Parker was transported by ambulance to Saint Francis Hospital where he ultimately succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased.

FRANK was a member of the Wall Street group, which later became generally known as “Team Grease.”  In pleading guilty, FRANK admitted that he and another individual, who were both armed with 9mm handguns, opened fire on Parker from opposite sides of the vehicle in which he was seated.

FRANK pleaded guilty to one count of committing a Violent Crime in Aid of Racketeering, namely the murder of Anthony Parker.  Judge Arterton scheduled sentencing for February 5, 2016, at which time FRANK faces a maximum term of life imprisonment.

FRANK has been detained since his arrest on February 19, 2015.

The homicide of Anthony “Smooth” Parker was included in cold case playing cards sold to inmates in Connecticut’s state correctional facilities.  Each card in the deck features a photograph and brief details about a homicide or missing person case and lists telephone, mail and e-mail contacts that inmates can use to supply information.

This investigation is being conducted by the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Violent Crimes Task Force, DEA, Hartford Police Department and Cold Case Unit of the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney.  The FBI Task Force includes members of the Hartford Police Department, East Hartford Police Department, Connecticut State Police and Connecticut Department of Correction.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys John H. Durham and Peter S. Jongbloed, and Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney Patrick Griffin, who has been cross-designated as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney in this matter.

Updated November 12, 2015

Topic
Violent Crime