Tyriq Martin, Possession of Ammunition by a Felon, Connecticut 2023

NEW HAVEN, CT – Tyriq Martin, 22, of New Haven, is headed to federal prison after being sentenced to 15 months for illegally possessing ammunition. U.S. District Judge Omar A. Williams handed down the sentence in Hartford today, followed by three years of supervised release. The case highlights the ongoing federal crackdown on individuals with prior convictions possessing firearms and related materials.

The ATF and New Haven Police Department launched the investigation in the spring of 2022, uncovering a trove of digital evidence. A court-authorized search of Martin’s Snapchat account revealed numerous photos and videos depicting him with firearms. On June 15, 2022, New Haven Police arrested Martin near Ferry Street and Chatham Street on an outstanding state warrant related to firearm and narcotics offenses. At the time of the arrest, officers found him carrying a loaded, privately made Polymer 80 firearm. A search of the vehicle Martin was driving yielded 11 rounds of 9mm ammunition.

This wasn’t Martin’s first brush with the law. Court records show he was previously convicted in state court in July 2021 of conspiracy to commit first-degree assault, stemming from a shooting that injured two victims. He received a five-year sentence, but it was suspended after 16 months, with three years of probation. This prior conviction is what made the possession of ammunition a federal offense, as it’s illegal for convicted felons to possess firearms or ammunition that has crossed state lines.

Martin has been detained since his arrest and pleaded guilty on January 9, 2023, to possession of ammunition by a felon. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jocelyn Courtney Kaoutzanis and Rahul Kale prosecuted the case through the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) program, a violent crime reduction initiative that targets the most dangerous offenders and supports local prevention and reentry programs.

The PSN program, a core component of the Justice Department’s efforts to combat violent crime, focuses on a collaborative approach involving law enforcement, community organizations, and social services. The goal is to identify and address the root causes of violence while simultaneously holding those responsible accountable for their actions. This case demonstrates the program’s effectiveness in removing dangerous individuals and illegal weapons from the streets.

Martin is also scheduled to be sentenced in state court on related charges. The ATF’s Boston Field Division spearheaded the federal investigation, working alongside the New Haven Police Department to bring Martin to justice. This case serves as a warning to others involved in illegal firearm activity: federal and local authorities are working together to keep communities safe.

Related Federal Cases