A convicted felon from Watertown, Connecticut has been sentenced to 11 months imprisonment for violating federal firearms laws. Michael A. Petro, 44, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant in Hartford for illegally possessing a firearm and ammunition.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Petro was observed by a law enforcement officer on the morning of December 10, 2015, along the Appalachian Trail in Kent, Connecticut. Petro was found to be in possession of a Savage Arms/Stevens Model 311, 12 gauge shotgun, which was breached open and unloaded. Despite denying having any shotgun shells, two 12 gauge shotgun shells were discovered under fallen leaves approximately 20 yards away from where Petro was standing. A subsequent search of Petro’s jacket revealed two additional shotgun shells.
Petro’s criminal history includes a felony conviction for assault. As a convicted felon, it is a violation of federal law for Petro to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Environmental Conservation Police of the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives assisted in the investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Hal Chen.
Petro has been detained in state custody since December 15, 2015. He has multiple unrelated state charges pending. On June 13, 2016, Petro pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon.
As part of his sentence, Judge Bryant ordered Petro to perform 200 hours of community service during his term of supervised release. Petro’s sentence reflects the seriousness of his crime and the need for him to take responsibility for his actions. The sentence also acknowledges the importance of public safety and the need to prevent convicted felons from possessing firearms.
The case serves as a reminder of the importance of respecting the laws and regulations that protect our natural resources and public safety. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Environmental Conservation Police will continue to work together to enforce these laws and protect our environment.
Mandatory Facts: Defendant: Michael A. Petro. Crime: Unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. City and State: Watertown, Connecticut. Date: December 10, 2015. Sentence: 11 months imprisonment, time served, and two years of supervised release.
Related Federal Cases
- Michael A. Petro, Unlawful Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition by a Convicted Felon, Connecticut 2016 · Virginia
- Caleeb Brown, Possessing Firearms as a Convicted Felon, Connecticut 2024 · Connecticut
- Rohan A. James-Dennie Jr., Firearms Possession by Unlawful User of Controlled Substance, Connecticut 2016 · Connecticut
- Jermane Merlyn Samuel, Receiving and Possessing Firearms with Obliterated Serial Numbers, Connecticut 2018 · Connecticut
- Kelvin Peters, Possession of Firearms by a Convicted Felon, Connecticut 2018 · Connecticut
Key Facts
- State: Connecticut
- Category: Weapons
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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