Meriden Man Involved In Middlefield Home Invasion Sentenced To More Than 10 Years In Federal Prison

Deirdre M. Daly, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that SHANE LEVERETTE, also known as Shane Baltas, 44, formerly of Meriden, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Janet C. Hall in New Haven to 126 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for illegally possessing a firearm and for violating the conditions of his supervised release from a previous federal conviction.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on February 16, 2011, at approximately 10:40 p.m., LEVERETTE and an accomplice, who was armed with a handgun, entered a residence in Middlefield for the purpose of stealing money and drugs.  LEVERETTE and his accomplice were dressed in black and wearing baseball hats with a DEA logo and gloves, and had bandannas covering their faces.  Inside the residence, LEVERETTE located and stole a semi-automatic rifle.  He and his accomplice then threatened two adults with their firearms and directed them to remain seated on the bed.  After demanding money, the accomplice struck a male victim with the handgun, causing the victim’s head to bleed, and the handgun discharged.  LEVERETTE and his accomplice then searched the bedroom for drugs and money.

After receiving a 911 call, the Connecticut State Police and Middletown Police Department arrived at the scene and surrounded the residence.  LEVERETTE and his accomplice surrendered and were arrested and charged with state offenses.  Law enforcement officers also seized the accomplice’s handgun and the semi-automatic rifle that LEVERETTE had stolen.

Prior to February 2011, LEVERETTE had sustained multiple federal and state 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.  The rifle that LEVERETTE possessed was manufactured in Hungary.

In February 1999, LEVERETTE was sentenced in federal court in Massachusetts to 151 months of imprisonment for racketeering, narcotics and firearm offenses.  He was released from federal prison on April 23, 2007, and was serving a five-year term of supervised release at the time of the Middlefield home invasion.

On April 30, 2013, LEVERETTE pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon.  On that date, he also admitted to violating the conditions of her supervised release.

Judge Hall sentenced LEVERETTE to 96 months of imprisonment for illegally possessing a firearm, and a consecutive 30 months of imprisonment for violating his supervised release.

LEVERETTE has been detained since his arrest.  His accomplice was prosecuted in state court.

This matter was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms, the Connecticut State Police and the Middletown Police Department.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Peter S. Jongbloed.

PUBLIC AFFAIRS CONTACT:

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