Department of Justice
For Immediate Release
Waterbury Man Involved in Armed Robbery of Undercover ATF Agent Sentenced to 70 Months in Prison
Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that CALRISSIAN SMITH, also known as “Cali,” 33, of Waterbury, was sentenced yesterday by Chief U.S. District Judge Janet C. Hall in New Haven to 70 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release, for his role in the armed robbery of an undercover ATF special agent.
This matter stems from “Operation Samson,” an initiative headed by the ATF and the Bridgeport and New Haven Police Departments that targeted violent criminals, illegal firearm possession and firearm trafficking. In the spring of 2014, approximately 40 ATF special agents and personnel from Connecticut and across the country were deployed with New Haven and Bridgeport Police to conduct numerous covert operations.
According to court documents and statements made in court, a confidential informant and an ATF special agent working in an undercover capacity arranged to purchase an ounce of crack cocaine from two individuals identified as “Cali” and “Orlando” in Waterbury. On June 3, 2014, the informant and the undercover agent traveled to a location on West Farm Street in Waterbury to conduct the transaction. At the location, “Orlando,” who was subsequently identified as Kevin Rodriguez, pointed a gun at the undercover agent, “racked” the slide of the pistol thereby readying it to fire, and demanded that the agent give him all of his money. The agent handed Rodriguez his wallet, which contained $1,300 in government funds that was to be used to conduct the controlled purchase of narcotics.
Rodriguez then entered a vehicle being driven by SMITH. Other ATF agents that had been monitoring the transaction immediately arrived at the scene. After colliding with an ATF vehicle, SMITH and Rodriguez fled the scene at a high rate of speed.
Rodriguez was apprehended in Waterbury on June 5, 2014, and SMITH was apprehended in Virginia on June 13, 2014.
SMITH has been detained since his arrest. On April 20, 2015, he pleaded guilty to one count of attempted distribution of 28 grams or more of cocaine base (“crack cocaine”).
Rodriguez pleaded guilty to one count use of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence and, on July 2, 2015, he was sentenced to 84 months of imprisonment.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracy Dayton.
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