Hartford Man Sentenced for Theft of Government Property and Fentanyl Distribution Offenses

Leonard C Boyle, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JOSE NUNEZ-TORRES, also known as “Jose Nunez” and “J-Money,” 21, of Hartford, was sentenced today via videoconference by U.S. District Judge Robert N. Chatigny to approximately 16 months of imprisonment, time already served, followed by three years of supervised release, for theft and narcotics offenses.  Judge Chatigny ordered Nunez-Torres to serve the first four months of supervised release in home confinement.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on January 29, 2019, Nunez-Torres and Dominque Perry stole a 2016 Honda Accord from a residence in Newington.  The vehicle was the property of a federal law enforcement agency and contained fully loaded firearm magazines for multiple weapons, ammunition, handcuffs and other restraints, a ballistic vest and its component parts, and raid jackets.  After stealing the vehicle, Perry drove the Accord to a location in Bloomfield where he Nunez-Torres removed the vehicle’s tires and rims.  Nunez-Torres and Perry subsequently sold the tires and rims, and advertised the sale of loaded firearm magazines, ammunition, ballistic vest and other items.

Nunez-Torres was arrested on March 1, 2019.  The vehicle and its tires and rims have been recovered, but some of the law enforcement equipment that was in the car has not been located.

In the afternoon of November 14, 2020, while he was released on bond in his federal case, Nunez-Torres was arrested on state charges after law enforcement officers encountered him sleeping in a stolen car that was parked on an I-91 off ramp in Hartford.  A search of the car revealed two stun guns, a black metal collapsible baton, and distribution quantities of fentanyl and marijuana.  He has been detained in state custody since that date.

On May 11, 2021, Nunez-Torres pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of theft of government property and one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.

Nunez-Torres subsequently pleaded guilty in state court to risk of injury of a minor related to his intending to impair the morals of a minor under the age of 16, and to larceny offenses related to his earlier theft of two additional vehicles, a 2016 Nissan Maxima valued at $17,000 and a 2012 BMW 528 valued at $22,000.  Nunez-Torres is expected to be released from state custody on February 8.

Perry pleaded guilty in federal court to theft of government property and, on February 3, 2020, was sentenced to 12 months and one day of imprisonment, followed by four months of home confinement.

Judge Chatigny ordered Nunez-Torres and Perry to pay $1,560 in restitution for the missing equipment.

This matter was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with the assistance of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Newington Police Department, the Hartford Police Department and the Connecticut State Police.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter S. Jongbloed.