A second man pleaded guilty Thursday in U.S. District Court to carrying out the stabbing death of Javier Reyes in September 2012 under orders from the leader of a ring that distributed drugs out of garage bays on Walker Street in New London. 

Andrew Aviles, 27, of New London pleaded guilty to a federal assault offense and is facing a maximum sentence of life in prison. A sentencing date has not been set. 

Jose Rosado Jr., 20, of New London pleaded guilty in July and also awaits sentencing. 

Reyes, 36, was stabbed multiple times outside his 187 Huntington St. apartment and died a short time later. He also suffered blunt force trauma to the back of his head, according to the government. 

Investigators recovered surveillance video footage that showed Aviles and Rosado, carrying a bat, creeping toward Reyes and then running away from him about 15 seconds later. 

Aviles, presented before U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant Thursday, admitted that he stabbed Reyes during the assault. 

According to the government, Aviles was an associate of a criminal organization that distributed marijuana, cocaine and other narcotics from the “Green Garages” at 12/14 Walker St. in New London. 

In the summer of 2011, Oscar “Tato” Valentin, leader of the so-called Green Garages organization, was the intended victim of a murder-for-hire plot orchestrated by former members of his enterprise in an attempt to take over the narcotics distribution at the Green Garages. 

The government alleges Valentin orchestrated the assault on Javier Reyes to maintain his leadership, hiring Aviles and Rosado to carry out the assault in exchange for cash. 

Aviles and Rosado are incarcerated, as is Valentin, who has pleaded not guilty and is expected to go on trial later this year. 

The case is being investigated by the New London Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with the assistance of the Connecticut State Police Eastern District Major Crime Squad, the Connecticut Department of Correction, Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Secret Service and the New London State’s Attorney’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anthony Kaplan and Sarah Karwan, and Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Paul Narducci. 

k.florin@theday.com

Twitter: @KFLORIN