Loaded Gun for Felon: Elliott Otero Gets 4 Years Behind Bars

Loaded Gun for Felon: Elliott Otero Gets 4 Years Behind Bars

HARTFORD, CT – In a move that will undoubtedly bring a sense of relief to the community, Elliott Otero, 34, of Manchester, has been sentenced to 4 years in federal prison for unlawfully possessing a loaded gun, announced Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on September 25, 2021, Otero was charged in state court with failing to appear in connection with a probation violation as part of his sentence for a 2018 conviction for criminal possession of a pistol/revolver. But it wasn’t until February 25, 2022, that the full extent of Otero’s crimes came to light when employees of a private bail enforcement company encountered him outside of a liquor store in Manchester and attempted to apprehend him.

During a struggle, a loaded Smith & Wesson .38 caliber pistol fell from his waistband. Manchester Police arrived shortly thereafter and took custody of Otero and the pistol. Subsequent analysis of the firearm revealed that it had been stolen from a pickup truck in Wolcott in December 2021.

Otero’s criminal history includes state felony convictions for firearm, robbery, and larceny 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.

Otero has been detained in state custody since his arrest. On February 15, 2023, he pleaded guilty in federal court to unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. This conviction will undoubtedly add to the mounting list of Otero’s crimes, further solidifying his position as a threat to public safety.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s 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 a result of Otero’s sentencing, the community can rest a little easier knowing that this fugitive felon will be behind bars for the next 4 years. However, it remains to be seen whether this sentence will be enough to deter others from following in Otero’s footsteps and committing similar crimes.