The leader of a major New Haven drug trafficking ring was sentenced today to 25 years in federal prison and five years of supervised released, according to the U.S. attorney’s office.
Joseph Jackson, also known as “M.I.” and “Mighty,” 37, was sentenced following his arrest on Oct. 28, 2010. On Feb. Jackson pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distributing 280 grams or more of crack cocaine, said the U.S. attorney’s office.
As part of his sentence, Jackson is required to turn over two cars, two motorcycles, and approximately $72,325.
Jackson’s arrest is the result of a major 2010 investigation headed up by the FBI New Haven Safe Streets Task Force and Drug Enforcement Administration New Haven Task Force, with help from New Haven Police, Hamden Police and the U.S. Marshals Service.
Investigators used court-authorized wire taps to identify and locate Jackson’s drug trafficking organization, centered in the Newhallville area of New Haven and Hamden.
Upon searching Jackson's New Haven home on Winchester Avenue, police found a .40-caliber semi-automatic pistol, crack cocaine and a pile of cash. Investigators also discovered a kilogram of cocaine, 150 grams of packaged crack, cellphones, drug packaging materials and more money in a West Haven apartment Jackson used for packaging and distribution, the U.S. attorney's office said.
At the time of the investigation, Jackson was one of the region’s major crack distributors, the U.S. attorney’s office reported.
A total of 47 people have been arrested in connection to the investigation, the U.S. attorney’s office said. All have been convicted.
Jackson has a record of drug trafficking felonies.