United States Attorney's Office District of Connecticut
Press Release

Project Safe Neighborhoods: ANSONIA MAN SENTENCED TO MORE THAN NINE YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON FOR ILLEGALLY POSSESSING AMMUNITION

Kevin J. O’Connor, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that JOSE LOPEZ, 34, of Ansonia, was sentenced yesterday, February 11, by United States District Judge Janet Bond Arterton in New Haven to 112 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release.  On July 17, 2007, a jury found LOPEZ guilty of possession of ammunition by a convicted felon.

The evidence at trial established that LOPEZ was arrested by officers of the Stratford Police Department on March 28, 2006, on Gary Street in Bridgeport, following a routine traffic stop.  LOPEZ was found in possession of a firearm loaded with several rounds of .44 magnum ammunition.

LOPEZ previously has been convicted in Connecticut Superior Court of sale of a hallucinogen/narcotic, sale of drugs, escape, and other felony offenses.

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.

LOPEZ has been in custody since his arrest.

This case was investigated by the Project Safe Neighborhoods Task Force for the Bridgeport area, which includes law enforcement personnel from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives and the Bridgeport Police Department.  The Stratford Police Department also participated in the investigation.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys James Smart and Robert Spector.

U.S. Attorney O’Connor noted that this prosecution is part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods Initiative.  This program is aimed at reducing gun violence, deterring illegal possession, sale and trafficking of guns and ammunition, and improving the safety of residents throughout Connecticut.  Participants in the initiative include community members and organizations as well as federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.

CONTACT:

U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
Tom Carson
(203) 821-3722
thomas.carson@usdoj.gov