Hartford man gets prison for stealing police car
HARTFORD — A Hartford man was sentenced to 16 months in prison Monday in federal court for stealing a law enforcement vehicle packed with ammunition, a bulletproof vest and other equipment.
Jose “J-money” Nunez-torrez, 21, was accused of stealing government property and charged with possession with intent to sell the synthetic opioid fentanyl.
Law enforcement records presented in court accuse
Nunez-torres and Dominque Perry of Hartford of stealing a 2016 Honda Accord from a residence in Newington in January 2019. The vehicle was assigned to a federal law enforcement agent, who was not identified, and contained fully loaded firearm magazines for multiple weapons, ammunition, handcuffs and other restraints, a ballistic vest and its component parts, and raid jackets.
Nunez-torres and Perry are accused of taking the car to Bloomfield, selling the tires and rims and placing advertisements for the sale of the other equipment. Federal prosecutors said the tires and rims were recovered, but not all of the law enforcement gear. Perry, 25, was sentenced to one year.
In a gripping legal memo, federal prosecutors described a growing law enforcement problem — frequently committed by juveniles — that is turning Hartford and other cities into dumping grounds for stolen cars. Many in law enforcement say the thefts and police pursuits create a public safety problem and argue for stiff punishment for car thieves, including juveniles recruited because of the relatively lenient sentences they get. Youth advocates are pushing for laws that resolve cases by, in many instances, keeping youths out of court.
Prosecutors said Perry and Nunez-torres were part of a group “involved in the ongoing business of stealing cars.” While trying to outrun police, Durham said Perry once hit 170 mph. He said the pursuing officer broke off at 120 mph.
While free on bond in the federal car theft case, Nunez-torres was arrested on state charges after law enforcement officers encountered him sleeping in another 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.
Nunez-torres later 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.