Felon Involved in Illegal Purchase of Handgun at Newington Gun Store Sentenced to 21 Months in Prison

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JAMAL WEIR, 30, of Bridgeport, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Janet C. Hall in New Haven to 21 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for illegally purchasing and possessing a firearm.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in August and September 2017, Jamal Weir and Tymon Peterson texted one another about purchasing firearms.  Peterson possessed a valid pistol permit and was able to purchase firearms legally, but Weir, as a convicted felon, is prohibited from possessing firearms.  On September 22, 2017, Weir and Peterson travelled together to Hoffman’s Gun Center in Newington.  At the store, Weir provided Peterson with cash to purchase at least one firearm on his behalf.  On that date, Peterson filled out an ATF Form 4473 in which he falsely represented that he was the actual purchaser of a SCCY Model CPX-2, 9mm semi-automatic pistol, and that he was not acquiring the firearm for another person.  Peterson gave the pistol to Weir after they exited the store.

Weir’s criminal history includes state convictions for illegal possession of a weapon in a motor vehicle, possession of narcotics with intent to sell, and carrying a pistol without a permit.

Weir has been detained since his arrest on September 17, 2018.  On December 6, 2018, he pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

On December 14, 2018, Peterson, of Stratford, pleaded guilty to one count of making a false statement during the purchase of a firearm.  He awaits sentencing.

This investigation is being conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with the assistance of the Connecticut State Police, the Newington Police Department and Hoffman’s Gun Center.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anthony E. Kaplan and Margaret E. Maigret.

This prosecution is part of 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.