New Haven Man Charged with Firearm and Narcotics Offenses

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Boston Field Division, and New Haven Police Chief Karl Jacobson today announced that a federal grand jury in New Haven has returned a three-count indictment charging SHAYQUAN GRAY, also known as “Scooby,” 23, of New Haven, with firearm and ammunition possession and cocaine distribution offenses.

The indictment was returned on March 26, 2024, and Gray appeared today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert M. Spector in New Haven and pleaded not guilty to the charges.  He has been detained since his arrest on March 14, 2024.

As alleged in the indictment and statements made in court, on March 14, 2024, New Haven Police observed Gray, who had an active state arrest warrant, participating in a drug transaction.  Gray was arrested, and he was found in possession of 80 individual bags of cocaine, a Polymer 80 “ghost gun” loaded with seven rounds of ammunition, and more than $1,200 in cash.

It is alleged that Gray’s criminal history includes multiple felony convictions, including a state conviction for a firearm offense.  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 indictment charges Gray with possession with intent to distribute cocaine, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years; unlawful possession of ammunition by a felon, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 15 years; and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, which carries a mandatory consecutive term of imprisonment of at least five years.

U.S. Attorney Avery stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This matter is being investigated by the New Haven Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tara E. Levens and Christopher Lembo.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.