United States Attorney's Office District of Connecticut
Press Release

Project Safe Neighborhoods: NORWICH MAN SENTENCED TO MORE THAN 15 YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON FOR ILLEGAL GUN POSSESSION
                       
Nora R. Dannehy, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that MICHAEL FLOYD, 40, of Norwich, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Alvin W. Thompson in Hartford to 188 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release.  On November 9, 2007, FLOYD pleaded guilty to one count of an Indictment charging him with being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm.

According to documents filed with the Court and statements made in court, on September 10, 2005, officers of the Norwich Police Department arrested FLOYD in connection with a Charter Arms 5-shot, .38 caliber revolver, which was located in and seized from a motor vehicle FLOYD was operating on a public street at approximately 2:00 a.m.  After FLOYD’s arrest and by his instruction, an associate of FLOYD’s contacted Jamel General and Candace Shaw, who agreed to take possession of a nylon bag that they knew contained firearms previously possessed by FLOYD.  For a short period of time, the bag containing firearms and ammunition were kept by General and Shaw at their residence, but they soon moved the bag to a location under the porch of the home of Shaw’s stepfather in Franklin, Connecticut.  On October 6, 2005, following an investigation by Norwich Police, General and Shaw admitted that a bag of firearms was placed under the porch of Shaw’s parents’ house without their knowledge.  General and Shaw traveled with law enforcement to the Franklin house, and Shaw pointed out the location of the bag.  Law enforcement seized the bag, which upon examination contained a shotgun, three handguns, two loaded magazines and several boxes of ammunition.  FLOYD had instructed General and Shaw to sell the firearms in New London in order to raise bond money related to his September arrest.

During recorded calls made by FLOYD over prison telephones on several dates following the October 6 seizure of the firearms and ammunition, FLOYD expressed his anger concerning the firearms that were seized.

FLOYD is a previously convicted felon.  It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce.

General and Shaw have each pleaded guilty to charges related to their roles in this offense.  On June 5, 2007, Shaw was sentenced to five months of imprisonment, followed by five months of home confinement.  General awaits sentencing.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, together with officers of the Norwich Police Department and the New London Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys John H. Durham and Anthony E. Kaplan, and Assistant State’s Attorneys Paul Narducci and Michael Kennedy of the New London State’s Attorney’s Office who are serving as Special Assistant United States Attorneys in this matter.

The Project Safe Neighborhoods Initiative is aimed at reducing gun violence, deterring illegal possession of guns, and improving the safety of residents in Connecticut’s cities.  Participants in the initiative include community members and organizations as well as federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.

CONTACT:

U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
Tom Carson
(203) 821-3722
thomas.carson@usdoj.gov