HARTFORD, CT – Tyrus Prude, 29, of Enfield, is headed to federal prison after being sentenced to 21 months behind bars for illegally possessing ammunition, U.S. Attorney John H. Durham announced today. Prude received the sentence from U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea, along with a three-year term of supervised release following his incarceration.
The case stems from a court-authorized search of Prude’s Enfield residence on January 19, 2018. Law enforcement officers discovered six live rounds of 9mm ammunition during the search. While seemingly a small quantity, the possession was illegal given Prude’s checkered past.
Court records reveal Prude is no stranger to the justice system. He’s a convicted felon with prior state convictions for burglary in the third degree and possession of a weapon in a motor vehicle. Federal law clearly prohibits individuals with felony convictions from possessing firearms or ammunition that has crossed state lines – and the 9mm rounds certainly fall under that umbrella.
Prude pleaded guilty on February 20, 2019, to one count of possession of ammunition by a convicted felon. The plea was a direct acknowledgement of the facts, and the judge today handed down a significant sentence. This isn’t about gun rights; it’s about keeping dangerous weapons out of the hands of those who’ve already demonstrated a disregard for the law.
The investigation was a joint effort between the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Enfield Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Gustafson prosecuted the case, building a solid case against Prude. The ATF’s involvement underscores the seriousness with which federal authorities view illegal ammunition possession.
This prosecution is part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative. PSN aims to foster collaboration between federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, along with community partners, to reduce violent crime and improve the safety of neighborhoods. For Prude, and others like him, the message is clear: possessing illegal ammunition comes with serious consequences. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and others like it as they unfold.
Related Federal Cases
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- Bridgeport Felon Staton Gets 3+ Years for Gun Possession · Connecticut
- New Haven Felon Cox-Henderson Pleads Guilty to Illegal Handgun Possession · Connecticut
- Loaded Gun for Felon: Elliott Otero Gets 4 Years Behind Bars · Connecticut
- Ghost Guns & Silencers: 9+ Years for Mass. Man · Massachusetts
Key Facts
- State: Connecticut
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Weapons
- Source: Official Source ↗
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