New Haven Man Sentenced to More Than 3 Years for Illegal Gun Possession, Violating Supervised Release

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that SHAQUILLE PEARSON, 25, of New Haven, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Alvin W. Thompson in Hartford to 39 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for illegally possessing a firearm, and for violating the conditions of his supervised release from a prior federal firearm conviction.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on May 23, 2017, Pearson was sentenced in federal court to 24 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.  He was released from federal prison in May 2018.

On March 21, 2019, Pearson led New Haven police officers in a foot chase.  Officers apprehended Pearson and then retrieved a loaded Taurus PT25, .25 caliber handgun that Pearson had discarded on Wilson Street during the chase.

In addition to his prior federal conviction, Pearson’s criminal history includes state convictions for burglary and for carrying a dangerous weapon.

On June 17, 2019, Pearson pleaded guilty to one count of possession for a firearm by a convicted felon.

Judge Thompson sentenced Pearson to 27 months of imprisonment for the firearm offense, and a consecutive 12 months of imprisonment for violating the conditions of his supervised release.

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. Attorneys Sarah P. Karwan and Maria del Pilar Gonzalez.

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.