Jaime Diaz, Straw Purchasing Firearms, Connecticut 2023

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Table of Contents

Hartford Man Sentenced to 24 Months for Straw Purchasing Firearms

A harsh sentence has been handed down to a Hartford man accused of engaging in a firearm trafficking scheme. JAIME DIAZ, 30, of Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford to 24 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for illegally purchasing, possessing, and selling firearms.

According to court documents and statements made in court, between August 2020 and November 2021, Diaz purchased approximately 17 handguns from two Connecticut firearm dealers. At the time of the purchases, Diaz was an unlawful user of controlled substances. After obtaining the firearms, Diaz sold them to others in exchange for cash, as well as narcotics.

On November 30, 2021, ATF special agents interviewed Diaz and seized the only firearm that remained in his possession. Diaz sold one handgun back to the firearm dealer he had purchased it from. Another handgun that Diaz purchased was recovered by the Hartford Police Department from an individual charged with drug trafficking. The remaining 14 firearms handguns have not been recovered.

This brazen scheme has left law enforcement reeling. ‘The defendant’s actions put innocent lives at risk, and we’re glad he’s being held accountable,’ said Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney A. Reed Durham through Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the violent crime reduction efforts.

PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

Diaz has been detained since April 10, 2023, when his bond was revoked. His sentence marks a significant victory for law enforcement and the community.