Glock Switch & Drugs: NH Man Faces Life

⏱ 3 min read

Harry Whitley, 23, of New Haven, is looking at a serious stretch behind bars after admitting he was packing heat while slinging dope. Federal prosecutors say cops caught Whitley, already wanted on a state warrant and on probation, dealing drugs in New Haven back on November 4, 2024. A quick follow-up in Waterbury turned up fentanyl, coke, oxycodone, and a seriously modified Glock 17 9mm – complete with an extended magazine and a “Glock switch” that turns it into a near-automatic weapon.

Whitley’s no stranger to the system. Court records show prior felony convictions in Connecticut for both illegal gun possession and larceny. This latest bust triggers a mandatory minimum of five years in federal prison, but Judge Kari A. Dooley could hand down a life sentence when he’s sentenced on June 11.

The feds are calling this case part of “Operation Take Back America,” a broad-stroke initiative aimed at everything from busting cartels to cracking down on violent crime. The investigation was a joint effort by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), New Haven Police, and Connecticut State Police.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Lembo and Nathan Guevremont are prosecuting the case. Whitley has been held without bail since his arrest, and his legal team hasn’t publicly commented on the plea.