New Haven Man Sentenced to 46 Months in Federal Prison for Firearm Offense

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that EARL HOBBY, 37, of New Haven, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Alvin W. Thompson in Hartford to 46 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for illegally possessing ammunition.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on December 19, 2014, members of the New Haven Police Department responded to a call concerning a person with a firearm at 154 Frank Street in New Haven.  Arriving officers encountered HOBBY walking on Clover Street and attempted to stop him.  HOBBY resisted, and two officers were injured in the struggle.  After HOBBY was subdued, he was found to be in possession of two rounds of Winchester .38 Special ammunition.  A loaded Ruger .357 revolver and a quantity of heroin packaged for distribution also were found in the area.

Prior to December 2014, HOBBY had sustained multiple narcotics convictions and a weapon conviction.  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.

On January 21, 2016, HOBBY pleaded guilty to one count of possession of ammunition by a convicted felon.

The matter was investigated by the New Haven Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer Laraia and Anthony Kaplan.