Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that CHARLES BARNES, 35, of Stamford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Alvin W. Thompson in Hartford to 63 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for illegally possessing a loaded firearm.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on December 29, 2015, Stamford Police stopped a car BARNES was driving. A subsequent search of the vehicle revealed a Berretta 9 millimeter pistol loaded with 12 rounds of ammunition, which was found in the glove box. The search also revealed 16 bags of marijuana packaged for sale.
Prior to December 2015, BARNES had sustained a felony conviction for possession of marijuana with intent to sell, and two felony convictions for second degree assault. 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.
BARNES has been detained since December 29, 2015. On November 17, 2016, he pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon.
This matter was investigated by the Stamford Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas P. Morabito.