New Haven Man Pleads Guilty to Illegal Gun Possession

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ERRIE McCLENDON, also known as “Buck,” 28, of New Haven, pleaded guilty today in Hartford federal court to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

According to court documents and statements made in court, McClendon was arrested on May 11, 2019, in New Haven, after he possessed a loaded Ruger, model P85, 9mm pistol with an obliterated serial number.  McClendon attempted to discard the firearm and then struggled with the arresting officers, but was eventually subdued and the firearm was immediately recovered.

Prior to May 2019, McClendon had been convicted in state court of felony narcotics and larceny offenses.  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.

McClendon is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant on March 25, 2020, at which time he faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.

McClendon has been detained since June 19, 2019, when he was arrested on a state probation violation charge.

This matter has been investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the New Haven Police Department.  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Peter D. Markle and Jocelyn Courtney Kaoutzanis.

This prosecution has been brought through 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.