Willimantic Man Who Stole 38 Guns from Newington Store Sentenced to 9 Years in Federal Prison

Marc H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that KWITZPATRICK DUFFANY, 37, formerly of Willimantic, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford to 108 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release, for offenses related to his theft of 38 firearms from a Newington gun store in 2023.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on May 27, 2023, during non-business hours, Duffany entered Hoffman’s Gun Store in Newington by climbing onto the balcony over the main entrance, cutting into the siding with a knife, and dropping down from the ceiling.  Surveillance footage showed Duffany walking through the store and filling duffel bags with 38 guns.  He then exited the store through the same hole.  After stealing the guns, Duffany and two other individuals traveled to Hartford where Duffany traded several of the stolen guns for cash and drugs.  In the following days, Duffany sold most of the remaining guns in exchange for cash and narcotics, or he provided guns to other individuals to sell.

Duffany was arrested by the Connecticut State Police in Ashford in the early morning of June 1, 2023.  Surveillance footage from a nearby gas station showed Duffany hiding a satchel in a soda display case shortly before his arrest.  Investigators recovered the satchel and found a loaded Smith and Wesson 9mm handgun and drugs inside the bag.  The gun had been stolen from Hoffman’s Gun Store.

To date, law enforcement has recovered only six of the stolen guns, including one that was recovered by Hartford Police during an investigation of a homicide that occurred on July 5, 2024.

Duffany has been detained since his arrest.  On February 3, 2025, he pleaded guilty to theft of firearms from a licensee, and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine.       

This matter was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Newington Police Department, with the assistance of the Connecticut State Police and the Willimantic Police Department.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert S. Dearington.

Acting U.S. Attorney Silverman thanked the State’s Attorney for the Judicial District of New Britain for its cooperation in investigating and prosecuting this matter.