New Haven Man Who Possessed Stolen Firearm is Sentenced

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that MICHAEL BALDWIN, 20, of New Haven, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant in Hartford to one day of imprisonment, time already served, and three years of supervised release, for possessing a stolen firearm.  Judge Bryant also ordered BALDWIN to perform 120 hours of community service while on supervised release.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on April 10, 2016, Hamden Police arrested BALDWIN after he and other individuals fled from police in a stolen car.  After a pursuit, the vehicle crashed into a pole and BALDWIN, who had not been driving, fled from officers on foot.  He was subsequently taken into police custody.  A search of BALDWIN’s person revealed a plastic bag containing crack cocaine packaged for street sale, and a makeshift firearm holster around his stomach.  Officers also located and seized a Springfield Armory XD .40 caliber handgun that had been discarded next to the crashed vehicle.

The firearm had previously been reported stolen from a residence in Hamden.

On April 5, 2017, BALDWIN pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a stolen firearm.

This matter was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Hamden Police Department.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Natasha Freismuth and Peter Markle.