A 29-year-old Hartford man has pleaded guilty to drug distribution and firearm possession offenses, according to the U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut.
GLADSTONE BENJAMIN, JR. pleaded guilty yesterday before U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley to possession with intent to distribute heroin and marijuana, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.
The charges stem from a 2019 investigation by the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force and the Hartford Police Department. On April 23, 2019, investigators conducted a court-authorized search of Benjamin’s residence and found a loaded Taurus 9mm handgun with an extended clip, two loaded Taurus .45 caliber handguns, a loaded semiautomatic handgun, a Remington Arms 12 gauge shotgun, and distribution quantities of heroin and marijuana.
The investigation also revealed that Benjamin had a significant amount of ammunition, including over 1,000 rounds of loose and boxed ammunition.
B Benjamin’s criminal history includes state felony convictions for firearm and drug 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.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Gustafson. Benjamin is currently released on a $75,000 bond pending sentencing, which is scheduled for May 3, 2021.
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Key Facts
- State: Connecticut
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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