Skip to main content
Press Release

Hartford Man Sentenced to 51 Months in Prison for Gun, Drug Offenses

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Connecticut

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that FELIPE RODRIGUEZ, also known as “Flip,” 36, of Hartford, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in Bridgeport to 51 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for gun and drug offenses.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on March 10, 2015, members of the Hartford Police Department and other investigators were conducting an investigation into narcotics trafficking in the area of Park and Hungerford Streets. While conducting surveillance, they observed a vehicle pull over on Park Street and the driver of the vehicle hand a package to a person who investigators suspected was distributing narcotics in the area. Officers conducted a traffic stop of the vehicle after it drove away. RODRIGUEZ was in the rear passenger seat of the car. A search of his person revealed 49 bags of marijuana packaged for street sale, and a search of the vehicle revealed a .32 caliber handgun. RODRIGUEZ admitted that the gun was his.

Prior to March 2015, RODRIGUEZ had been convicted of felony offenses, including larceny and robbery.

On June 29, 2016, RODRIGUEZ pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

In December 2016, while RODRIGUEZ was released on bond and participating in Support Court, investigators conducted two controlled purchases of heroin from RODRIGUEZ. RODRIGUEZ was arrested on December 15, 2016. On that date, a search of his residence revealed a loaded .22 caliber firearm, additional rounds of ammunition, and a Los Solidos gang “contract.” He has been detained since his arrest.

This case was investigated by the Hartford Police Department and the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Violent Crimes Task Force, which includes members of the Hartford Police Department, East Hartford Police Department, Connecticut State Police and Connecticut Department of Correction. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Gustafson.

Updated September 14, 2017

Topics
Drug Trafficking
Firearms Offenses
Project Safe Neighborhoods