Shavarrius Smith, 21, Charged in Ghost Gun, Drug Bust

A 9mm ‘ghost gun’ with a 31-round magazine and a stash of heroin and crack cocaine were pulled from a stolen vehicle driven by Shavarrius Smith, 21, of New Haven — just weeks after his prison release. The discovery, made by New Haven Police on October 8, 2021, at approximately 11:15 p.m., triggered a federal indictment charging Smith with firearm and narcotics offenses, law enforcement officials announced today.

Smith, a known Bloods gang member, had been back on the streets for barely over a month, having been released from prison on September 2, 2021. At the time of the arrest, he was on probation and wearing a GPS ankle monitor. Officers located and apprehended him shortly after finding the stolen car loaded with contraband, according to court documents from the federal grand jury in Bridgeport.

The indictment unsealed today charges Smith with possession of ammunition by a felon — a federal offense that carries up to 10 years in prison — and possession with intent to distribute heroin and cocaine base (crack cocaine), which could result in up to 20 years behind bars. The firearm recovered was untraceable, constructed from parts without serial numbers, fitting the profile of a ‘ghost gun’ increasingly favored by violent offenders.

Smith’s criminal past includes multiple state felony convictions for larceny and drug offenses. Under federal law, any person previously convicted of a felony is banned from possessing firearms or ammunition that have moved in interstate or foreign commerce — a threshold easily met in most modern weapons and ammo.

Acting U.S. Attorney Leonard C Boyle emphasized that the indictment is not evidence of guilt. ‘Charges are only allegations,’ Boyle stated, ‘and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.’ Despite that presumption, Smith has remained in custody since his arrest and is expected to face a rigorous prosecution.

The case is being handled by ATF’s Boston Field Division and the New Haven Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria del Pilar Gonzalez is prosecuting under the Justice Department’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) and Project Longevity initiatives — federal-local partnerships aimed at dismantling gun violence in Connecticut’s urban centers by targeting repeat violent offenders and coupling enforcement with community outreach.