Felon Who Illegally Possessed Firearm In Stamford Sentenced To More Than Seven Years In Federal Prison

Deirdre M. Daly, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that MARCELLUS CATCHINGS, 27, of Bridgeport, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Robert N. Chatigny in Hartford to 90  months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for illegally possessing a firearm.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on March 18, 2011, CATCHINGS engaged a Stamford Police officer in a foot chase in the vicinity of Pacific Street.  During the chase, CATCHINGS pointed a firearm at the officer, and then dropped it.  CATCHINGS was apprehended and officers recovered a Browning 9mm handgun.  The gun’s chamber contained two bullets, indicating that someone had attempted to fire it, but that it had jammed when two bullets had simultaneously entered the chamber.

Prior to March 2011, CATCHINGS had been convicted of multiple felony offenses, including first degree robbery, possession of narcotics and carrying a dangerous weapon.  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.

CATCHINGS has been detained since his arrest.  On January 24, 2012, he pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Judge Chatigny ordered the 90-month federal sentence to be served concurrent with a 15-year state sentence CATCHINGS is currently serving.

This matter was investigated by the Stamford Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Rahul Kale.

PUBLIC AFFAIRS CONTACT:

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