Hartford Felon Sentenced for Loaded Handgun Possession

In a stark reminder of the dangers of gun violence, CHRISTOPHER GASKIN, 47, of Hartford, was sentenced to 27 months of imprisonment for illegally possessing a loaded handgun.

According to the evidence presented during his trial earlier this year, in the afternoon of January 1, 2022, Hartford Police officers stopped a car Gaskin was operating on Irving Street in Hartford. A search of his person revealed a loaded .380 caliber handgun, a bag containing approximately five grams of crack cocaine, and 35 vials of crack.

Gaskin’s criminal history includes several felony convictions, including convictions for assault, robbery, and witness tampering 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.

On February 28, 2024, a jury found Gaskin guilty of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, and not guilty of possession with intent to distribute cocaine base (“crack”).

This matter was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the Hartford Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Angel M. Krull and Patricia Stolfi Collins through Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and other violent crime, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.

Project Safe Neighborhoods is a nationwide program that has been instrumental in reducing gun violence and violent crime across the United States. The program’s core principles include fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

The sentence handed down to Gaskin is a testament to the dedication of law enforcement agencies and prosecutors in their efforts to keep our communities safe. As we continue to grapple with the scourge of gun violence, it is essential that we hold accountable those who would seek to exploit and harm our citizens.

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced the sentencing, highlighting the importance of the work being done by law enforcement agencies and prosecutors in the fight against gun violence.