Hartford Men Charged with Stealing Federal Law Enforcement Vehicle and Equipment

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that on February 27, 2019, a federal grand jury in New Haven returned an indictment charging DOMINQUE PERRY, 23, and JOSE NUNEZ-TORRES, also known as “Jose Nunez” and “J-Money,” 19, both of Hartford, with stealing government property.

As alleged in the indictment and statements made in court, on January 29, 2019, Perry and Nunez-Torres 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 and Nunez-Torres removed the vehicle’s tires and rims.  Perry and Nunez-Torres subsequently sold the tires and rims, and attempted to sell the loaded firearm magazines, ammunition, ballistic vest and other items.

Perry was arrested on February 6 on a federal criminal complaint, and Nunez-Torres was arrested today.  Most of the stolen items have been recovered.

The indictment charges Perry and Nunez-Torres with one count of conspiracy to steal government property, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years, and one count of theft of government property, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.

U.S. Attorney Durham stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt.  Charges are only allegations, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This matter is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with the assistance of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Newington and Hartford Police Departments.  The case is being prosecuted by U.S. Attorney Durham.