Julian Scott, also known as “Ju Sav,” age 26, was sentenced to life in federal prison and an additional mandatory consecutive term of 30 years by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport for his role in the 960 gang, a violent street gang based in Waterbury.
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; Thomas Greco, Special Agent in Charge of ATF Boston Field Division; and Waterbury Police Chief Fernando C. Spagnolo.
Authorities have been investigating several Waterbury-based gangs due to ongoing drug trafficking and violence in the area. On September 14, 2021, a federal grand jury indicted Scott, Gabriel Pulliam, and fourteen other members of the 960 gang on charges that included racketeering, murder, attempted murder and assault, firearm possession offenses, narcotics trafficking, and obstruction of justice.
During Scott and Pulliam’s trial, evidence showed that on October 6, 2018, Scott and other gang members carried out a drive-by shooting at Bank Street and Porter Street targeting rival gang members but instead wounded an innocent bystander. Five days later on October 11th, seeking retaliation for a fellow member’s death, they fired into a crowd killing Fransua Guzman—a bystander—and paralyzing another person. On November 18th that year they participated in another drive-by shooting injuring two people.
Scott and others also produced rap videos promoting their gang activities including violence and drug dealing; some lyrics referenced actual crimes committed by members.
Scott has been held since his arrest on state charges on May 23, 2019. He was found guilty alongside Pulliam on May 10, 2024 by a federal jury for conspiracy to engage in racketeering activity among other violent offenses involving firearms. Pulliam was additionally convicted for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances.
Pulliam received his sentence—life imprisonment plus ten years—on November 5th this year.
The investigation revealed at least ten violent acts committed by members of the group during 2017-2018. All sixteen charged individuals have now been convicted and sentenced; three others—Zaekwon McDaniel, Tahjay Love and Malik Bayon—also received life sentences.
Multiple agencies were involved in this investigation including FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force; local police departments from Waterbury as well as Southington, Watertown and New Milford; Connecticut State Police; Department of Correction; Forensic Science Laboratory; DEA Laboratory; ATF; U.S. Marshals Service. The case was prosecuted jointly 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 who served as Special Assistant U.S Attorneys.
“This prosecution is part of the Justice Department’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative aimed at reducing violent crime through community partnerships,” according to officials.