Zakewon McDaniel, also known as “Gap” and “Yung Gap,” 27, of Waterbury, received a life sentence plus a mandatory 10-year consecutive prison term for crimes connected to his leadership role in the 960 gang. The sentencing was delivered by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport.
The announcement was made by David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut; Maureen T. Platt, State’s Attorney for the Waterbury Judicial District; P.J. O’Brien, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Bryan DiGirolamo, Acting Special Agent in Charge, ATF Boston Field Division; and Waterbury Police Chief Fernando C. Spagnolo.
Authorities stated that efforts to address drug trafficking and violence in Waterbury led federal and local law enforcement agencies to investigate several groups including the 960 gang. On September 14, 2021, a federal grand jury indicted McDaniel and 15 other members on charges such as racketeering, murder, attempted murder and assault, firearm possession, narcotics trafficking, and obstruction of justice.
Evidence presented at trial showed that on October 31, 2017, members of the 960 gang carried out a drive-by shooting targeting rival gang members in Waterbury. One person was wounded during this incident. Investigators recovered multiple shell casings from different firearms at the scene and identified the car used by those involved; McDaniel’s DNA was found on its steering wheel.
On November 22, 2017, McDaniel along with Malik Bayon and Tahjay Love shot at Clarence Lewis and Antonio Santos while they were in a car at a restaurant in Waterbury. Lewis drove away but crashed into a house where both he and Santos died at the scene. Shell casings linked two firearms from this event to those used on October 31. Additionally, McDaniel’s DNA was discovered on a gun magazine left behind at the restaurant.
Another incident occurred on December 29, 2017 when McDaniel shot and injured the father of a rival gang member outside his home shortly before 9:00 p.m., while other gang members recorded themselves wearing masks near the location minutes before.
To promote their group activities, McDaniel and others produced rap videos highlighting violence associated with their gang as well as firearm possession and drug dealing; many lyrics referenced criminal acts carried out by group members.
McDaniel has been held since January 3, 2018.
A jury convicted McDaniel on February 14, 2024 for conspiracy to engage in racketeering activity with special circumstances; murder under the Violent Crimes in Aid of Racketeering statute; two counts related to causing death through use of firearms during violent crimes; attempted murder; assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering; and carrying or using firearms during violent offenses. Tahjay Love was found guilty of obstruction of justice while Malik Bayon was convicted for conspiracy to distribute heroin and fentanyl as well as several firearm-related offenses connected to drug trafficking.
Love and Bayon are awaiting sentencing.
The investigation involved collaboration among multiple agencies including FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force, Waterbury Police Department, ATF, U.S. Marshals Service—with support from Southington Police Department, Watertown Police Department, New Milford Police Department, Connecticut State Police as well as state forensic laboratories—and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Geoffrey M. Stone, John T. Pierpont Jr., Natasha M. Freismuth along with Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney Don E. Therkildesen Jr., Deputy Assistant State’s Attorney Alexandra Arroyo (both cross-designated as Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys).
This case is part of broader efforts under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) and Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) programs.
