A Waterbury man is behind bars after being caught with a loaded handgun, the latest defendant in a federal crackdown on violent offenders. ANTHONY MORALES, 29, of Waterbury, was indicted by a federal grand jury on May 7, 2019, on one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, according to U.S. Attorney John H. Durham for the District of Connecticut.
The indictment alleges that on January 19, 2019, Morales possessed a Taurus, Model 85, .38 caliber revolver loaded with five rounds of ammunition, along with 13 additional loose rounds. The weapon, manufactured outside Connecticut, had moved in interstate commerce — a key element in federal firearm prosecutions. Morales was arrested following the return of the indictment and appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert M. Spector in New Haven.
Morales entered a plea of not guilty during his initial court appearance. He remains in custody pending a detention hearing scheduled for May 17 at 10:30 a.m. Federal prosecutors argue he poses a risk to public safety given his criminal history, which includes prior convictions for state robbery, larceny, assault, and narcotics offenses.
Under federal law, individuals previously convicted of a felony are strictly prohibited from possessing any firearm or ammunition that has traveled across state or international lines. Violating this statute carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. If convicted, Morales could face the full extent of that sentence.
U.S. Attorney Durham emphasized that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. “Charges are only allegations,” Durham stated, reiterating the legal principle that a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Waterbury Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas P. Morabito is prosecuting the case. This prosecution is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a nationwide initiative that leverages federal, state, and local law enforcement partnerships to reduce violent crime and increase public safety in high-risk communities.
Related Federal Cases
- Alvin ‘Nardy’ Crawford Gets 42 Months for Illegal Gun Possession · Connecticut
- Leonard Sikorski Pleads Guilty to Illegal Firearm Possession · Connecticut
- Norman Charles Hilbert Pleads Guilty to Gun Possession · Virginia
- Michael A. Petro Sentenced for Gun Possession on Appalachian Trail · Connecticut
- Stamford’s Charles Barnes Gets 63 Months for Gun Possession · Connecticut
Key Facts
- State: Connecticut
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Weapons
- Source: Official Source ↗
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