United
States Attorney's Office District of Connecticut
Press Release
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United
States Attorney's Office District of Connecticut |
| June 26, 2009 |
Project Safe Neighborhoods: NEW HAVEN MAN SENTENCED TO 54 MONTHS FOR ILLEGAL POSSESSION OF GUN, CRACK COCAINE Nora R. Dannehy, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JAMES ECHOLS, also known as “JW,” 23, of Lilac Street, New Haven, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Janet C. Hall in Bridgeport to 54 months of imprisonment, followed by six years of supervised release. On April 7, 2009, ECHOLS pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine base (“crack cocaine”), and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. According to documents filed with the Court and statements made in court, on November 13, 2008, New Haven Police sought to arrest ECHOLS based on his sale of crack cocaine to a confidential informant on August 13, 2008. As officers approached ECHOLS in the vicinity of Portsea and Dewitt Streets, he clutched a firearm located beneath his waistband and fled on foot, leading officers on a lengthy chase through that neighborhood. During the chase, ECHOLS hid the firearm and a quantity of crack cocaine inside his mother’s minivan. ECHOLS was eventually apprehended by force. Officers subsequently conducted a consensual search of the minivan, which resulted in the seizure of a loaded Beretta, 9mm, semi-automatic pistol and 12 plastic baggies, each containing crack cocaine. Prior to November 13, 2008, ECHOLS had been convicted of a felony narcotics offense. It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce. This case has been investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the New Haven Police Department pursuant to the Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christopher Mattei. The Project Safe Neighborhoods Initiative is aimed at reducing gun and gang violence, deterring illegal possession of guns, and improving the safety of residents of Connecticut’s cities. Participants in the initiative include community members and organizations as well as federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. | |
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