Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JAMES BOWERS, 32, of New London, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Robert N. Chatigny in Hartford to 72 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for illegally possessing a firearm and distributing marijuana while on federal supervised release.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on October 6, 2008, BOWERS was sentenced in U.S. District Court in New Haven to 120 months of imprisonment and eight years of supervised release for possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon and possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine.  He was released from federal prison in December 2014.

On June 30, 2016, while BOWERS was on supervised release, law enforcement officers conducted a court-authorized search of BOWERS’ New London residence and seized a loaded .45 caliber handgun, more than one kilogram of marijuana packaged for distribution, other items used to process and package marijuana, and $2,600 in cash.  The firearm had been reported stolen in Ohio.

BOWERS has been detained since his arrest on related state charges on June 30, 2016.  On February 17, 2017, he pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon, and one count of possession with intent to distribute marijuana.

Judge Chatigny sentenced BOWERS to 60 months of imprisonment for the firearm and marijuana offenses, and a consecutive 12 months of imprisonment for violating the conditions of his supervised release.

This matter was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Connecticut State Police Statewide Narcotics Task Force-East, which includes members from the Norwich, Groton City and New London Police Departments.  The case was prosecuted by U.S. Attorney Durham.

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