Prospect man Frank Moss, 31, has been charged with 15 counts of firearm offenses, including making false statements in connection with the purchase of 11 firearms and possessing firearms as an unlawful user of controlled substances.
On seven dates between June 14, 2017 and November 1, 2017, Moss made false statements in connection with the purchase of 11 firearms at gun stores in Wolcott, Seymour, and Waterbury, despite being an unlawful user of or addicted to controlled substances, as alleged in the indictment.
The indictment charges Moss with eight counts of making a false statement during the purchase of a firearm by representing that he was not an unlawful user of, or addicted to, controlled substances, and seven counts of possession of a firearm by an individual who is an unlawful user of, or addicted to, any controlled substance.
If convicted, Moss faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years on each count.
Moss appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah A. L. Merriam in New Haven, entered a plea of not guilty to the charges, and was released on a $50,000 bond.
The matter is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Waterbury Police Department, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Natasha Freismuth as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program aimed at reducing violent crime and making neighborhoods safer for everyone.
U.S. Attorney John H. Durham stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt and that charges are only allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case highlights the importance of responsible gun ownership and the need for strict laws and regulations to prevent the misuse of firearms.
Key Facts
- State: Connecticut
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
ðŸâ€Â’ Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
Violent CrimeViolent CrimeViolent CrimeViolent Crime