New Haven Man Sentenced to 3 Years in Prison for Federal Assault and Crack Distribution Offenses

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ROBERT HARRIS, also known as “Skully Mack,” 20, of New Haven, was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge Janet C. Hall in New Haven to 36 months of imprisonment, followed by 6 years in supervised release, for gang-related assault and drug distribution offenses.

According to court documents and statements made in court, HARRIS was a member of the Red Side Guerilla Brims (“RSGB”), a sect of the Bloods street gang that operated in New Haven from 2011 through 2015, which was engaged in narcotics trafficking and related acts of violence, including murder, attempted murder, assaults and armed robberies.  On December 23, 2014, HARRIS and another RSGB member, Christopher Graham, a.k.a. “Ugg,” committed a violent assault of an individual over a .40 caliber pistol that the victim allegedly stole from him.  Graham had called HARRIS to the scene after realizing the victim had stolen the gun.  Shortly after HARRIS arrived, the victim showed them where he had hidden the gun.  HARRIS then retrieved the gun and pistol whipped the victim with it.

In addition, in June 2014, HARRIS sold approximately 10 grams of crack cocaine to an individual working with law enforcement.

On September 30, 2015, a federal grand jury in New Haven returned a 34-count indictment charging HARRIS, Graham and four other individuals with various racketeering, violent crimes in aid of racketeering, firearms, money laundering and narcotics distribution offenses.  Other RSGB members and associates have been charged and convicted separately in state and federal courts in Connecticut and Maine.

HARRIS has been detained since his arrest on October 1, 2015.  On February 3, 2016, he pleaded guilty to one count of assault in aid of racketeering and one count of possession with the intent to distribute crack cocaine.

Graham pleaded guilty to one count of assault in aid of racketeering and one count of possession with the intent to distribute crack.  On August 24, 2016, he was sentenced to 66 months of imprisonment and five years of supervised release.

This ongoing investigation is being conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the New Haven Police Department, the Connecticut Department of Correction, the Connecticut State Police, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency and the Hamden Police Department.  The New Haven State’s Attorney’s Office also provided critical assistance in the investigation.

An instrumental component of the investigation has been the work of the Connecticut State Crime Laboratory in utilizing the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) to analyze ballistics evidence.

This matter is being prosecuted in the District of Connecticut by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert M. Spector and Peter D. Markle.  A related case in the District of Maine is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel Casey.