Charles Barnes, Possession of Firearm by Felon, CT 2024

A Stamford man with a violent criminal past is headed for federal prison after pleading guilty to illegally possessing a loaded handgun. Charles Barnes, 34, admitted in New Haven federal court today to one count of possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon—a charge that carries a maximum 10-year sentence.

The arrest unfolded on December 29, 2015, when Stamford Police pulled over a vehicle Barnes was driving. What began as a routine traffic stop exploded into a federal case when officers searched the car and found a loaded Berretta 9 millimeter pistol stashed in the glove box. The gun held 12 live rounds. Also discovered: 16 individual bags of marijuana, clearly packaged for street sale.

Barnes wasn’t just breaking state law—he was violating a strict federal ban. Prior to the stop, he had already racked up three felony convictions: one for possession of marijuana with intent to sell, and two for second-degree assault. Under U.S. law, anyone with a felony record is barred from possessing firearms or ammunition that have moved in interstate or foreign commerce—a threshold easily met in nearly all modern weapons.

Since the day he was arrested, Barnes has remained behind bars. Detained December 29, 2015, he has not seen freedom while his case wound through the federal system. Now, with his guilty plea locked in, he awaits formal sentencing by U.S. District Judge Alvin W. Thompson in Hartford on February 10, 2017.

The investigation was a joint effort between the Stamford Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), highlighting the collaboration between local and federal agencies in cracking down on illegal guns. Prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas P. Morabito, who emphasized the danger felons with firearms pose to public safety.

With a history of violence and drug dealing, Charles Barnes’ return to the streets with a loaded gun set off alarm bells the moment police found him. His guilty plea closes one chapter—but the broader battle against armed felons in Connecticut remains a daily grind for law enforcement and prosecutors alike.