DAMIEN GARCIA, Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, Connecticut 2019

Gradyville, CT – In a shocking turn of events, a Vernon man has been sentenced to five years of probation for his involvement in a brazen firearm burglary at the Simon Says Pawn Shop in Stafford in 2019.

DAMIEN GARCIA, 34, of Vernon, pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and was handed down the sentence by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford. The incident occurred on September 15, 2019, when the Connecticut State Police received a report that the Simon Says Pawn Shop had been burglarized and several firearms had been stolen.

Investigations revealed that Garcia sold the stolen firearms to three separate drug dealers in Hartford in exchange for drugs and cash. The stolen firearms included seven handguns, one of which was recovered by police after they apprehended Garcia and his associate, Lawrence McEwen, on West Main Street in Vernon.

McEwen, also of Vernon, pleaded guilty to possession of a stolen firearm and is scheduled to be sentenced on November 2. The investigation was a joint effort between the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Connecticut State Police, Vernon Police Department, and Hartford Police Department.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David J. Sheldon. This matter is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program aimed at reducing violent crime through evidence-based strategies.

Garcia has been detained since his federal arrest on September 23, 2019. On December 9, 2020, he pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The sentence handed down to Garcia is a significant blow to his plans of avoiding serious prison time, as he faces a 66-month sentence in state court for related charges.

This is not the first time Garcia has been involved in a crime. As a convicted felon, he is not allowed to possess firearms, making his involvement in this burglary and sale of stolen firearms all the more egregious.

The Stafford community is breathing a sigh of relief that justice has been served, but the incident serves as a reminder of the need for continued vigilance and cooperation between law enforcement agencies to combat violent crime.

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