A federal jury in New Haven has found Melkuan Scott guilty of the drug-related murder of Serafin Velez, which occurred in Hartford on February 16, 2012. The announcement was made by David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut.
The trial presented evidence indicating that the murder was a retaliatory act following a failed marijuana transaction. Scott and his associates lost tens of thousands of dollars when individuals from New York provided them with fake marijuana after receiving payment. In response to this failed deal, Scott forced Velez into a vehicle and drove him to Waverly Street, where Velez was shot and killed by Scott and an associate.
Scott has been convicted of kidnapping resulting in death and causing death through the use of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime. He faces a mandatory life sentence at an as-yet-unscheduled sentencing hearing.
Since April 2014, Scott has been held in federal custody and recently completed a 13-year federal sentence for another offense.
The investigation into this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Hartford Police Department. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Reed Durham, Robert S. Ruff, and Christopher J. Lembo.
