Hartford Man Pleads Guilty To Stealing Government Vehicle: Feds

HARTFORD, CT — A Hartford man has pleaded guilty to theft of government property and fentanyl dealing charges. Jose Nunez-Torres, aka "Jose Nunez" and "J-Money," 21, pleaded guilty to one count of theft of government property and one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.

According to prosecutors, Nunez-Torres and Dominque Perry stole a 2016 Honda Accord in January 2019 from a residence in Newington. The vehicle was the property of a federal law enforcement agency, and contained fully loaded firearm magazines for multiple weapons, ammunition, handcuffs and other restraints, a ballistic vest and its component parts, and raid jackets.

Perry drove the Accord to a location in Bloomfield where he and Nunez-Torres removed the vehicle’s tires and rims, according to prosecutors. Nunez-Torres and Perry then sold the tires and rims, and advertised the sale of loaded firearm magazines, ammunition, ballistic vest and other items.

The vehicle and its tires and rims have been recovered, but some of the law enforcement equipment that was in the car has not been found.

Nunez-Torres was arrested March 1, 2019, and released on bond.

On Nov. 14, 2020, Nunez-Torres was arrested on state charges after police found him sleeping in a stolen car 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 since his arrest.

He is scheduled for sentencing Aug. 3 and faces up to 30 years in prison.

Nunez-Torres’ federal plea agreement also indicates that he will plead guilty in state court to risk of injury of a minor and to larceny crimes related to the theft of two other cars.