New Haven Man Sentenced to 41 Months in Prison for Illegally Possessing and Selling Sawed-Off Shotgun

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that CURTIS GIBBS, 32, of New Haven, was sentenced yesterday by Senior U.S. District Judge Alfred V. Covello in Hartford to 41 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for illegally possessing a sawed-off shotgun.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in January 2014, the ATF and New Haven Police Department received information that GIBBS was in possession of a sawed-off shotgun and a .380 caliber pistol and was looking to sell the firearms for $350.  In a meeting with an individual who expressed interest in purchasing the firearms, GIBBS noted that the purchaser be careful because the shotgun “had a body attached to it.”

On February 3, 2014, the purchaser and GIBBS completed the transaction for the sawed-off shotgun and pistol.  The pistol that was sold at that time turned out to be a starter’s pistol.

GIBBS has several prior felony convictions, including convictions for weapon in a motor vehicle and assault.

GIBBS has been detained since his arrest on April 23, 2014.  On April 7, 2015, he pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon.

This matter was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the New Haven Police Department.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert M. Spector.