WATERBURY, CT – Federal prosecutors are escalating the fight against gun violence in Waterbury, Connecticut, with indictments against four men accused of firearm and drug offenses. The charges, announced Wednesday, come as part of a coordinated effort between the ATF and the Waterbury Police Department to address a concerning rise in shootings within the city. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is taking the lead on these cases, shifting them from state to federal court.
Anfernee D. Dancy, 27, of Waterbury, is facing a charge of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. According to the indictment, Dancy was found with a Jimenez Arms, Inc. 9mm handgun on August 22, 2023. This isn’t Dancy’s first brush with the law; court records show prior felony convictions in Connecticut for burglary in the first degree, risk of injury to a child, and failure to appear in the first degree. If convicted, Dancy will almost certainly face significant federal prison time.
The indictments don’t stop at illegal gun possession. Alexis Joel Angueira, 23, of Waterbury, is accused of possessing fentanyl and cocaine with intent to distribute, alongside unlawful possession of ammunition by a felon. Investigators allege that on September 15, 2022, Angueira was found with the drugs, a “ghost gun” – a privately made firearm without serial numbers – and additional ammunition. Angueira also boasts a criminal history, with felony convictions for assault in the first degree and carrying a pistol without a permit. The presence of a ghost gun raises serious concerns about the increasing availability of untraceable firearms on the streets.
Two other Waterbury men, Melquawn Jamison, 25, and Glenn Jamison, 42, are facing even more serious charges. Both are accused of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and fentanyl, unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. On August 23, 2023, Melquawn Jamison allegedly possessed cocaine, fentanyl, a Ruger SR .45 caliber handgun, and a Glock 23 .40 caliber handgun. Glenn Jamison, on July 24, 2023, was allegedly found with cocaine, fentanyl, and a Taurus Arms G2C handgun. Glenn Jamison’s record is particularly extensive, including prior felony convictions for sale of narcotics, escape, burglary, larceny, a federal conviction for unlawful firearm possession, and he was on federal supervised release at the time of his latest arrest.
Glenn Jamison appeared in Hartford federal court Wednesday and entered a not guilty plea. Dancy, Angueira, and Melquawn Jamison were previously arraigned and also pleaded not guilty. All four defendants are currently being held without bail pending trial. U.S. Attorney Vanessa Roberts Avery was quick to note that an indictment is merely an allegation and that each defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt – a standard legal disclaimer, but a crucial one.
The investigations are being jointly conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Waterbury Police Department, with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sean Mahard, Konstantin Lantsman, and Natasha Freismuth leading the prosecution under the umbrella of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN, a Department of Justice initiative, aims to reduce violent crime through targeted enforcement and community partnerships. Whether this federal push will truly stem the tide of gun violence in Waterbury remains to be seen, but the stakes are undeniably high.
Related Federal Cases
- Vaughn Matthews, Drug Trafficking and Gun Possession, FL 2023 · Florida
- Marcos Boyd, Gun and Heroin Distribution, CT 2024 · Connecticut
- Michael Ledbetter, Ammunition Possession, CT 2024 · Connecticut
- Marquis Williams Sentenced to Mail Theft, Hartford CT, 2023 · Connecticut
- Kenneth Thom Pleads Guilty to Investment Scam, New York NY, 2026 · Connecticut
Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Weapons|Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Press Release
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