Hartford Man Pleads Guilty to Illegal Gun Possession

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that KUWAN RUSS, 37, of Hartford, pleaded guilty today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah A. L. Merriam in New Haven to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on July 25, 2015, RUSS was stopped by Hartford Police as he operated a vehicle in Hartford.  During a pat-down, an officer located a firearm in RUSS’s front right pants pocket.  The firearm was a Glock, Model 26, 9 millimeter pistol with a magazine that contained 10 rounds.

Prior to September 2015, RUSS had sustained felony convictions for offenses including robbery in the first degree, criminal attempt to commit assault in the first degree, strangulation in the second degree, and weapons offenses.

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.

RUSS is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Alvin W. Thompson in Hartford on December 5, 2016, at which time he faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a fine of up to $250,000.

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. Attorneys Brian Leaming and Jennifer Laraia.