JOHNATHEN LOPEZ, Illegal Gun Possession, Connecticut 2020

A Waterbury man has been sentenced to 23 months in federal prison for illegally possessing a firearm, according to authorities. JOHNATHEN LOPEZ, 30, of Waterbury, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Robert N. Chatigny to 23 months of imprisonment, time already served, and three years of supervised release, for illegally possessing a firearm.

Pursuant to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), the sentencing occurred via videoconference. Lopez was arrested by the Waterbury Police Department’s Street Crimes Unit after he was found in possession of a loaded Glock 27 .40 caliber handgun on April 27, 2017.

Lopez’s criminal history includes felony drug and weapon 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. Lopez has been detained since his federal arrest on July 2, 2018.

On March 9, 2020, he pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. This matter was investigated by the Waterbury Police Department’s Gang Task Force, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Natasha Freismuth and Patrick Caruso. This prosecution has been brought through Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make neighborhoods safer for everyone.

Lopez’s sentence serves as a stark reminder of the serious consequences of violating federal firearms laws. As this case demonstrates, the federal government will continue to prosecute individuals who possess firearms illegally, and those who have been previously convicted of felony offenses.

The investigation and prosecution of Lopez were the result of a collaborative effort between local and federal law enforcement agencies. The Waterbury Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives worked together to bring Lopez to justice and make the community a safer place.

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