A federal grand jury in Bridgeport has indicted three Waterbury residents, Arian Perez-Feliciano, 21, Alberto Rodriguez, 19, and Sydney Reid, 18, on charges related to a series of violent crimes that included the shooting of a Waterbury Police detective earlier this year. The indictment was announced 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; and Waterbury Police Chief Fernando C. Spagnolo.
The indictment was returned on August 7, 2025. All three defendants have been detained since their arrests on related state charges on February 13, 2025.
According to allegations in the indictment, Perez-Feliciano, Rodriguez, and Reid conspired to steal firearms and marijuana and committed carjackings using stolen vehicles. On January 13, 2025, Rodriguez and Reid allegedly pointed firearms at victims during a robbery in which they stole a shotgun, narcotics, cash, and other items. On February 13, the group is accused of attempting an armed carjacking on Waterville Street in Waterbury before successfully carrying out another carjacking on Chase Avenue shortly afterward. During their flight from police following these incidents, Perez-Feliciano allegedly shot at a pursuing detective with intent to kill him, striking the officer in the thigh.
The indictment includes charges of conspiracy; conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery; interference with commerce by robbery; carrying, using and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence; attempted carjacking; carjacking; and carrying, using, brandishing and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. If convicted on all counts, each defendant faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 17 years imprisonment and could receive up to life in prison.
U.S. Attorney Sullivan stated: “An indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.”
The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Waterbury Police Department. Prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney John T. Pierpont Jr., along with Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney Don E. Therkildesen Jr., who is serving as Special Assistant U.S. Attorney for this matter.
