Hartford Man Sentenced to 28 Months in Prison for Illegally Possessing Ammunition

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that CARLOS SANCHEZ, 32, of Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford to 28 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for illegally possessing ammunition.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in September 2015, the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Violent Crimes Task Force and Hartford Police Department initiated an investigation into narcotics distribution, firearms trafficking and acts of violence carried out by members and associates Los Solidos in Hartford’s South End.  The investigation, which included the use of court-authorized wiretaps and controlled purchases of heroin, crack cocaine and firearms, resulted in federal charges against approximately 30 individuals.

On eight occasions in November and December 2015, Jose “Jo Jo” Gonzalez sold crack cocaine and powder cocaine to an individual working with law enforcement.  On November 16, 2015, SANCHEZ assisted Gonzalez during one of these transactions at an apartment building on Babcock Street in Hartford.  Approximately 10 minutes after the transaction, SANCHEZ exited the building and drove away.  Hartford Police subsequently stopped the vehicle.  A search of the vehicle revealed approximately nine grams of cocaine, two loaded firearms that were lawfully registered to another occupant of the car, several rounds of additional ammunition, a handgun magazine and $1,100 in cash, including approximately $600 in funds that investigators had just used to purchase drugs from Gonzalez.

SANCHEZ has prior felony convictions.  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.

SANCHEZ has been detained since his arrest on December 21, 2015.  On June 20, 2016, he pleaded guilty to one count of possession of ammunition by a previously convicted felon.

Gonzalez also pleaded guilty and, on July 21, 2016, was sentenced to 87 months of imprisonment.

The FBI Task Force includes members of the Hartford Police Department, East Hartford Police Department, Connecticut State Police and Connecticut Department of Correction.  The Hartford Police Department’s Vice and Narcotics Squad, Major Crimes Unit, Shooting Task Force and South Conditions Unit have provided valuable assistance to the investigation, and the U.S. Marshals Service and Capitol Region Emergency Response Team (CREST) assisted with the arrests.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Gustafson.

This prosecution stems from Project Longevity, a comprehensive initiative to reduce gun violence in Connecticut’s major cities. Through Project Longevity, community members and law enforcement directly engage with members of groups that are prone to commit violence.  A critical component of the Project Longevity strategy is the “call-in,” a face-to-face meeting where Project Longevity partners engage group members and deliver a community message against violence, a law enforcement message about the consequences of further violence and an offer of help for those who want it.

Members of Los Solidos attended call-ins that were held in April 2014 and August 2014.