United States Attorney's Office District of Connecticut
Press Release

Project Safe Neighborhoods: NEW HAVEN FELON SENTENCED TO FOUR YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON FOR ILLEGAL GUN POSSESSION

David B. Fein, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that REGINALD SMITH, 25, of New Haven, was sentenced yesterday, October 7, by United States District Judge Janet C. Hall in Bridgeport to 48 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release.  On January 22, 2010, SMITH pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on November 6, 2009, SMITH possessed a SIG-Sauer P245 .45 caliber pistol loaded with six rounds of ammunition on Franklin Street in New Haven.  SMITH attempted to discard the firearm while running from New Haven Police officers.  After SMITH was apprehended, officers seized from him 70 bags of marijuana packaged for street sale and $515 in cash.

In November 2004, SMITH was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Connecticut to 22 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release for possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number, a felony 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.

In January 2006, while on federal supervised release, SMITH was arrested by New Haven Police on drug and firearms offenses.  In January 2007, SMITH was ordered to serve an additional six months of imprisonment for violating the terms and conditions of his supervised release.  In May 2008, SMITH was sentenced to an additional 10 months of imprisonment for again violating the conditions of his supervised release.

This case was investigated by the New Haven Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anthony E. Kaplan as part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods Initiative.

The Project Safe Neighborhoods Initiative is aimed at reducing gun and gang violence, deterring illegal possession of guns, ammunition and body armor, 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.

CONTACT:

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