Douglas Lara, Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, Connecticut 2023

WATERBURY, CT – Douglas Lara, a 25-year-old Waterbury man known on the streets as “Spaz,” is headed to federal prison for 48 months after pleading guilty to illegally possessing a firearm. U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea handed down the sentence today in Hartford, adding three years of supervised release to Lara’s term.

The case unfolded after a high-speed chase at the Foxwoods Resort Casino on May 6, 2021. Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Police attempted to stop Lara, who was driving a stolen 2021 Mercedes Benz SUV. Rather than surrender, Lara bolted, ditching a loaded 9mm handgun with its serial number deliberately scratched off, the keys to the stolen vehicle, and a backpack brimming with 9mm ammunition. Officers quickly apprehended him and recovered the discarded evidence.

Lara wasn’t a stranger to the law. Court records reveal a lengthy history of felony convictions, including multiple vehicle thefts and a conviction stemming from a shooting incident. Federal law prohibits convicted felons from possessing firearms or ammunition that has crossed state lines – a clear violation in Lara’s case. He’s been locked up since his arrest, awaiting the outcome of the proceedings.

The investigation was a collaborative effort involving the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Connecticut State Police, the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Police, the Waterbury and Wolcott Police Departments, and the Connecticut Department of Correction. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Natasha M. Freismuth and John T. Pierpont, Jr. led the prosecution.

U.S. Attorney Vanessa Roberts Avery acknowledged the cooperation of the State’s Attorney’s Office for the Judicial District of Waterbury in securing the conviction. Avery emphasized that this prosecution is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a federal program designed to combat violent crime and gun violence by uniting law enforcement at all levels with the communities they serve.

The PSN initiative, recently bolstered by the Justice Department, focuses on building trust, supporting community organizations, prioritizing strategic enforcement, and rigorously measuring results. This case serves as a stark reminder that illegally possessing a firearm, especially with a prior criminal record, will be met with serious federal consequences. Lara’s actions have not only landed him in prison but also contributed to the ongoing battle against gun violence in Connecticut.

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