New Haven Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Firearm and Drug Offenses, Violating Supervised Release

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that QIYON REED, also known as “Quiyon Reed” and “Gutter,” 35, of New Haven, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to firearm and drug offenses, and also admitted that he violated the conditions of his supervised release from a prior federal conviction.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on January 29, 2013, Reed was sentenced in New Haven federal court to 70 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release, for distributing heroin.  He was released from federal prison on October 27, 2017.

On September 12, 2018, New Haven police officers executed a state search warrant at Reed’s New Haven residence and seized a loaded Heritage Manufacturing Stealth C-2000 nine-millimeter, semi-automatic handgun; a loaded Smith & Wesson MP9 Shield nine-millimeter, semi-automatic handgun; a box of .45 caliber ammunition; approximately one gram of cocaine packaged for distribution, and items used to process and package narcotics for distribution.

In addition to his prior federal conviction, Reed’s criminal history includes state convictions for possession and sale of narcotics and for carrying a dangerous weapon.

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.

Reed pleaded guilty to one count of possession of firearms by a convicted felon, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years, and one count of possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, cocaine, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.  He also faces additional penalties for violating the conditions of his supervised release from his 2013 federal conviction.

Judge Dooley scheduled sentencing for August 20, 2019.

Reed has been detained since his arrest on related state charges on September 12, 2018.

This matter has been investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the New Haven Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elena L. Coronado and Marc H. Silverman.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make neighborhoods safer for everyone.