Enfield Man with Multiple Felony Convictions Charged with Illegally Possessing Gun in Hartford

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that a federal grand jury in Hartford has returned an indictment charging NATHANIEL RODRIGUEZ, 23, of Enfield, with one count of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon.

The indictment was returned on July 10, 2019.  Rodriguez appeared today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Donna F. Martinez in Hartford and entered a plea of not guilty to the charge.  If convicted of the offense, Rodriguez faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.  Rodriguez was ordered detained pending trial.

As alleged in the indictment, on January 27, 2019, Rodriguez possessed a loaded M&P Bodyguard .380 caliber handgun.  Prior to that date, Rodriguez sustained felony convictions in Massachusetts for firearms, assault, drug and witness intimidation offenses.

Rodriguez was arrested on state charges by Hartford Police in Hartford on January 27 and was subsequently released on bond.  He has been detained since March 29 when he was arrested in Enfield in an unrelated case.

U.S. Attorney Durham stressed that charges are only allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This matter is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Hartford Police Department.  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Gustafson.

This prosecution has been brought through Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make neighborhoods safer for everyone.